Mistral AI launches new chat assistant as European alternative to US and Chinese rivals
The Paris-based company says its AI can respond at speeds of up to 1,000 words per second.
French startup Mistral AI has launched a new app for its generative AI assistant, Le Chat, as it seeks to compete with American and Chinese tech giants. The Paris-based company, backed by Nvidia, claims its AI model responds at speeds of up to 1,000 words per second. The release comes just before an AI summit in Paris, highlighting growing European interest in homegrown alternatives to dominant players like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
CEO Arthur Mensch emphasised the importance of European AI development, stating that Mistral aims to make AI more open and widely accessible. The company has secured major partnerships with firms such as Veolia and European government agencies, though it remains smaller than its US competitors. Mensch also acknowledged that DeepSeek, a rising Chinese AI firm, had benefited from Mistral’s open-source technology.
Despite its rapid growth and a valuation of €5.8 billion, Mistral AI is not planning an initial public offering in the near future. The company has raised over €1 billion and remains financially strong. Mensch believes European AI firms have a cultural role to play in shaping the industry and positioning themselves as credible alternatives to US and Chinese models.
About author
DW Team
The GIP Digital Watch Observatory team, consisting of over 30 digital policy experts from around the world, excels in the fields of research and analysis on digital policy issues. The team is backed by the creative prowess of Creative Lab Diplo and the technical expertise of the Diplo tech team.
