LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters): Microsoft's deal with French tech startup Mistral AI is facing scrutiny in the European Union.
On Monday, Microsoft announced it would soon make Mistral's AI models available through its Azure cloud computing platform. The company said it had also invested in Mistral, but held no equity.
"We've made a 15 million euro investment in Mistral AI which would convert into equity in the company's next funding round," a Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters.
The deal has raised eyebrows in Brussels. Throughout negotiations over the EU's wide-ranging AI Act, Mistral lobbied for looser rules for some models, with advocates warning that strict rules risked undermining European companies' ability to compete with big tech.
The European Commission told Reuters on Tuesday that it would analyse the Microsoft-Mistral deal, as part of its ongoing scrutiny of big tech's AI partnerships.
Microsoft's deal with Mistral AI faces EU scrutiny
FE Team | Published: February 28, 2024 23:51:36
Microsoft's deal with Mistral AI faces EU scrutiny
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