Britain's competition watchdog said it would not investigate Microsoft's partnership with Mistral AI, a French artificial intelligence startup in which the tech giant invested $16 million in February. Microsoft has partnered with his Mistral AI to make its models available through the Azure platform.
The decision comes weeks after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) sought views on the partnership. The CMA said the partnership with Mistral would not be subject to investigation under the market's merger regulations.
In April, the CMA solicited comments on the partnership and the separate relationship between Microsoft and Inflection AI. The company also requested information about Amazon's partnership with Anthropic, according to Reuters. The Satya Nadella-led company also invested in OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT.
Statements from CMA and Microsoft
A CMA spokesperson said: “The CMA has considered the information submitted by Microsoft and Mistral AI, as well as the feedback received in response to requests for comment.”
“Based on the evidence, the CMA does not believe that Microsoft has gained significant influence over Mistral AI as a result of the partnership and is therefore not subject to any investigation,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, a Microsoft spokesperson said the partnership with iInvestment is essential for new entrants in the AI economy.
“We welcome the CMA's decision that our split investment and partnership with Mistral AI do not constitute a merger or acquisition,” the spokesperson added.
European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, who has been investigating partnerships between Big Tech and AI startups, met with Mistral AI last month.
“We need active competition in the AI space now,” she wrote to X after the conference.
The decision comes weeks after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) sought views on the partnership. The CMA said the partnership with Mistral would not be subject to investigation under the market's merger regulations.
In April, the CMA solicited comments on the partnership and the separate relationship between Microsoft and Inflection AI. The company also requested information about Amazon's partnership with Anthropic, according to Reuters. The Satya Nadella-led company also invested in OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT.
Statements from CMA and Microsoft
A CMA spokesperson said: “The CMA has considered the information submitted by Microsoft and Mistral AI, as well as the feedback received in response to requests for comment.”
“Based on the evidence, the CMA does not believe that Microsoft has gained significant influence over Mistral AI as a result of the partnership and is therefore not subject to any investigation,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, a Microsoft spokesperson said the partnership with iInvestment is essential for new entrants in the AI economy.
“We welcome the CMA's decision that our split investment and partnership with Mistral AI do not constitute a merger or acquisition,” the spokesperson added.
European Union antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, who has been investigating partnerships between Big Tech and AI startups, met with Mistral AI last month.
“We need active competition in the AI space now,” she wrote to X after the conference.