French startup Mistral has made waves in the world of artificial intelligence by securing a significant deal with tech giant Microsoft. Known for developing cutting-edge large language models to compete with major players like OpenAI and Google, Mistral has now entered into a multi-year partnership with Microsoft to introduce its next-generation AI model, Mistral Large, to the Azure cloud platform.
Despite being less than a year old, Mistral has already garnered a valuation of over $2 billion, thanks to its innovative AI models that rival industry leaders. The latest addition to its lineup, Mistral Large, is said to be on par with top models like Gemini Ultra and GPT-4 in terms of performance and functionality.
In addition to launching Mistral Large on the Azure cloud, the startup is also unveiling ‘Le Chat,’ a conversational interface designed as an entry point for accessing their various models. This move marks Mistral’s foray into the realm of virtual conversations, posing a direct challenge to existing platforms like ChatGPT.
Mistral’s co-founder, Arthur Mensch, highlighted the company’s agility as a key factor in its success, enabling them to compete with industry giants and strike lucrative partnerships with Microsoft and other tech companies. Mensch, who previously worked on the Gemini project at Google, emphasized Mistral’s focus on developing top-tier technology and making it accessible to developers worldwide.
By joining forces with Microsoft Azure, Mistral not only gains a platform to distribute its AI models but also secures a long-term partnership that includes Microsoft taking a minority stake in the startup. This strategic collaboration underscores the growing trend of tech companies investing in AI startups to harness cutting-edge technology and drive innovation in the field.
For now, Mistral’s flagship model, Mistral Large, will be available on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform and through Mistral’s API and Le Chat interface. This move signals a new chapter in Mistral’s journey to revolutionize the world of AI and bring advanced language models within reach of developers and users alike.
