Mistral AI Lab to Build First Data Centre in France

French artificial intelligence startup Mistral has announced plans to invest “several billion euros” in building its first data centre in France. The company aims to gain full control over data storage and processing power.

Mistral co-founder and CEO Arthur Mensch made the announcement just before the AI summit in Paris, scheduled for February 10 and 11, 2025. At the summit, world leaders and tech industry executives will discuss the future of artificial intelligence.

According to Mensch, Mistral's goal is to manage the entire AI value chain, from hardware infrastructure to software. 

The move aligns with France’s push to position itself as a prime data centre hub, employing its low-carbon nuclear energy and readily available development sites to attract major investors.

The French AI lab introduced its AI assistant, Le Chat, last week. 

President Emmanuel Macron expressed his support on X, exclaiming, “Vive Le Chat!” The government has backed the startup with fresh contracts, striking deals with the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the public employment agency, France Travail.

Silicon Valley-based Cerebras provides computing power. Cerebras, a challenger to Nvidia in AI training, is focused on inference, delivering AI responses efficiently. 

Mistral is also preparing for an initial public offering (IPO), Mensch announced earlier during an interview with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum (WEF). 

“We’re not for sale,” Mensch told Bloomberg, adding that the company plans to open a new office in Singapore to strengthen its presence in the booming Asia-Pacific market. It also expands operations across Europe and the United States, building on its mission to compete with industry leaders like OpenAI.