E.U. Watchdog to Examine Microsoft's Mistral AI Investment

Microsoft Corp.'s Mistral AI investment is set to be analyzed by the European Union's competition watchdog at the same time that its deep ties to OpenAI Inc come under regulatory scrutiny. Mistral announced a "strategic partnership" with Microsoft on Monday that includes making the startup's latest artificial intelligence models available to customers of Microsoft's Azure cloud. Microsoft said the investment amounted to 15 million ( 16.3 million.) Mistral develops algorithmic models similar to those from OpenAI used for chatbots and other AI services, but Mistral models are shared openly. Microsoft's investments will convert into equity as part of Mistral's next funding round.