Samsung in talks to invest up to $1.14 billion in Mistral AI

Samsung Electronics is in talks to invest up to $1.14 billion in French AI startup Mistral as part of a funding round that could value the company at about $22.8 billion, according to a report by the Financial Times.

The report, citing people familiar with the matter, said the South Korean technology giant could contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the fundraising, with Swedish investment firm EQT's Scaleup Europe Fund also in discussions to participate.

Reuters could not independently verify the report, and neither Samsung nor Mistral immediately responded to requests for comment.

If completed, the investment would mark one of Samsung's biggest strategic bets on generative AI and strengthen Europe's push to build homegrown AI champions capable of competing with U.S. rivals.

The report comes a day after Microsoft announced a multibillion-dollar agreement with Mistral to expand the startup's AI computing infrastructure in Europe and distribute its models through Microsoft's cloud platform.

Founded in 2023, Mistral has emerged as one of Europe's leading AI companies, positioning itself as an alternative to U.S.-based AI developers such as OpenAI and Anthropic. The startup supplies AI technology to the French military and has benefited from growing political support for sovereign AI infrastructure across Europe.

The push for technological independence has gained momentum following recent U.S. restrictions that temporarily limited foreign access to two advanced Anthropic AI models, prompting governments and enterprises in Europe to accelerate investments in domestic AI capabilities.

For Samsung, the reported investment aligns with its broader strategy of expanding its AI portfolio through strategic investments and partnerships. The company said earlier this year that it would pursue acquisitions and investments where necessary to accelerate innovation in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and robotics.

Although Mistral's valuation remains well below those of leading U.S. AI companies, the startup has rapidly become one of Europe's most closely watched AI firms as governments, enterprises and investors back regional alternatives in the race to develop frontier AI models.