In the field of artificial intelligence, the rise of DeepSeek has drawn widespread attention and concern in the West. However, Arthur Mensch, the CEO of Mistral, has welcomed this emerging force, believing that DeepSeek's new model will promote the development of the open-source ecosystem. Mistral, often referred to as "Europe's OpenAI," has consistently advocated for open-source principles since its establishment in 2023, emphasizing the importance of openness and collaboration.

In an interview with Business Insider, Mensch stated, "We see DeepSeek as China's Mistral." He believes this is a significant moment for open-source models, as companies like Mistral and DeepSeek are learning from each other and advancing together. Mensch pointed out that open-source not only accelerates development cycles but also saves on high licensing fees, offering hope to many tech companies.

DeepSeek

Image Source Note: Image generated by AI, image licensed from Midjourney

Recently, DeepSeek launched the R1 model, claiming its performance can rival competitors like ChatGPT, but at a significantly lower cost. This statement raised questions among investors, prompting them to reconsider whether investments in AI infrastructure are worthwhile. Meanwhile, the success of the R1 model has also led the industry to reassess the pros and cons of open-source versus closed-source models.

In a Reddit Q&A, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman admitted that his stance on open-source AI might be biased and stated that the company may need to rethink its strategy and explore new openness approaches. This statement undoubtedly gave more attention and support to open-source models.

Mensch emphasized that Mistral always prioritizes efficiency, especially regarding the use of funds. He noted that encouraging businesses to adopt new technologies and apply them in real-world scenarios does not necessarily require massive expenditures. Despite Mistral receiving a $1 billion investment from firms like Andreessen Horowitz, they do not intend to squander it. Mensch's message is clear: open-source and efficiency are the future mainstream.

In addition to promoting open-source, Mensch also revealed that Mistral will expand its capabilities in agent-based AI. This type of software, which can autonomously perform tasks, represents an important development direction for artificial intelligence.