The start-up Mistral AI introduces Le Chat as an alternative to ChatGPT and can count on the support of Microsoft to introduce Mistral LLMs in Azure.

Mistral AI is launching its flagship Mistral Large, a large language model (LLM) with which it aims to challenge OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and other AI providers. At the same time, the French AI start-up is launching its ChatGPT competitor under the name Le Chat. The AI ​​Assistant is now available in beta. You can register at chat.mistral.ai.

The manufacturer states that the beta version may sometimes have strange functions. Access to the service is initially free. Users can choose between three different models: Mistral Small, Mistral Large and a prototype model titled Mistral Next.

In the long term, Mistral AI would like to develop a paid version of Le Chat for enterprise customers. In return, organizations can define different moderation mechanisms.

According to Mistral AI, the various LLMs perform particularly well. In our own tests, Mistral Large takes second place after GPT 4. This puts it above Claude 2 from Anthropic and Gemini Pro 1.0 from Google. It is up to you to test the service and confirm this claim.

Mistral AI and Microsoft

Along with the launch of Le Chat, the French Mistral AI also announces a collaboration with Microsoft. Azure customers can now use Mistral models. At the moment it’s just a small collaboration with a presence in the Azure catalog, but it opens the door to more possibilities.

Microsoft is the lead investor in the profitable arm of OpenAI, but also hosts competing LLM models in Azure. You can already configure Llama models from Meta in Azure today.

Mistral AI experienced rapid development after launching in May 2023. A few weeks later it raised 105 million euros, followed by another round of 385 million euros at the end of 2023. The company was valued at $2 billion by Bloomberg at the time.