Mistral AI, a Paris-based startup, has launched its new large language model, Mistral Large, aiming to compete with leading models like GPT-4 and Claude 2. Alongside, it has introduced Le Chat, a beta chat assistant service. The company, which raised significant funding shortly after its May 2023 incorporation, including a $415 million round led by Andreessen Horowitz, is shifting from its initial open-source approach to a paid API model similar to OpenAI’s. Mistral Large, supporting multiple languages, is priced competitively against GPT-4 Turbo and is available through a usage-based pricing API.
In addition to its own platform, Mistral AI has announced a partnership with Microsoft to offer its models to Azure customers, expanding its reach and potentially attracting more users. This collaboration aligns with Microsoft’s strategy of hosting various AI models on Azure, maintaining customer engagement within its ecosystem while navigating antitrust considerations. The partnership also highlights the growing landscape of AI services and the increasing importance of strategic alliances in the tech industry.
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