French AI startup Mistral AI has published a 22-point policy manifesto urging the European Union to adopt a more ambitious and pragmatic strategy to avoid falling behind the US and China in the global artificial intelligence race.
The document, titled "A European Ambition for AI," calls for a significant shift in the bloc's regulatory and investment approach. It argues that the EU's current focus, heavily centered on the AI Act's risk-based regulation, is insufficient and risks stifling innovation. Mistral AI, a Paris-based company recently valued at nearly €6 billion, contends that Europe must urgently prioritize scaling its own AI capabilities to ensure technological sovereignty and economic competitiveness.
Key recommendations include a massive increase in public and private investment in AI infrastructure. The company proposes a €100 billion public-private investment fund, modeled on the EU's Chips Act, specifically for building next-generation, "exascale" supercomputing facilities accessible to European researchers and companies. It also advocates for leveraging public procurement to create a guaranteed market for European AI products and services, thereby de-risking private sector investment.
The manifesto emphasizes the need for regulatory pragmatism. It suggests that the implementation of the AI Act should prioritize legal clarity and avoid overburdening open-source projects and research with compliance costs. Furthermore, Mistral AI calls for policies that actively promote open-source AI development, which it views as a strategic asset for Europe, and for a concerted effort to attract and retain top AI talent through competitive funding and simplified immigration for specialists.
The proposals arrive at a critical juncture as European institutions finalize the AI Act and deliberate on future competitiveness measures. Mistral AI's stance reflects a growing concern within the European tech industry that an imbalance between regulation and proactive industrial policy could cement the continent's position as a rule-maker but not a leader in the foundational technologies of the future.