Mistral CEO says new AI model beats Chinese ones in some areas

French AI company Mistral's newest model outperforms Chinese models on cybersecurity, CEO Arthur Mensch told a conference in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, adding the product would be unveiled later in the day.

"The model we're actually announcing today is actually above the Chinese models on certain aspects, including cyber. So the narrative that Europe cannot compete is something that is not true," Mensch said onstage, without specifying which Chinese models or by what measure Mistral's model beat them.

The 3-year-old company is seen as Europe's best contender in the AI race, but is still dwarfed by US companies Anthropic and OpenAI, as well as facing pressure from lower-cost Chinese rivals.


Mistral, which raised €3 billion at a €21 billion valuation in a funding round in September, has sought to differentiate itself from competitors by presenting itself as a safer, European alternative. It last launched a model in April.

Speaking at the Ai Everything conference, Mensch said that Mistral's independence from the US and China was enabling it to grow quickly in the Gulf and APAC region.

"There's an enormous desire and an enormous need for alternative technology suppliers," he said.