2025-02-07 15:01:00
www.zdnet.com
![lechatscreenshot-2025-02-07-145839](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/91505ac6073f263073ddd2cad398e587b2293f81/2025/02/07/5012154c-e96a-4f4b-8b6d-237bb8cf0a7f/lechatscreenshot-2025-02-07-145839.jpg?auto=webp&width=1280)
A little-known French startup company is attempting to compete with the likes of ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot with its own AI chatbot. Known as Le Chat, Mistral’s AI service has already been accessible as a website and is now aiming to make a splash with its new mobile apps.
Launched in April 2023, Mistral AI is a French artificial intelligence startup. Co-founded by former Meta employees Timothée Lacroix and Guillaume Lample and former DeepMind researcher Arthur Mensch, Mistral has developed and released several large language models (LLMs), both commercial and open source. Mistral’s LLMs are accessible not only through websites and mobile apps but via APIs for third-party applications.
Also: Mistral AI says its Small 3 model is a local, open-source alternative to GPT-4o mini
The Le Chat website works similarly to other AI sites. Beyond submitting your text-based questions and requests, you can upload a PDF or image file for analysis, tell it to generate an image, and ask it to interpret your code. Taking a page from ChatGPT, Le Chat can also work as a standard search engine.
But there’s more. A Canvas feature helps you create documents, presentations, code, mockups, and other content. You can modify and then preview the content directly in place without having to submit new requests. Soon you’ll also be able to use AI-powered agents to carry out your requested tasks on their own.
The basic version of Le Chat is free to use, with or without an account, however, paid plans are also in the mix. At $15 a month, a Pro subscription grants you unlimited access to Mistral’s highest-performing models, an unlimited number of requests per day, and the ability to opt out of sharing your data. Starting at $25 per user per month, a Team plan designed for two or more people adds central management and dedicated support.
To supplement the website, Mistral launched a mobile Le Chat app this week. Designed for iPhone, iPad, and Android users, the app is simply and cleanly designed but still allows you to generate images, analyze your photos, and access a history of your previous chats.
Also: US sets AI safety aside in favor of ‘AI dominance’
What makes Le Chat so special that it’s worth using, either on the web or on your mobile device? In a news post from last November, Mistral touted several new powers.
The web search provides sources and citations so you can confirm the results. The Canvas tool is ideal for in-line editing and creating. Le Chat’s analysis of documents and images that you upload is powered by Mistral’s multimodal Pixtral Large, an LLM that at the time outperformed Claude-3.5 Sonnet, Gemini-1.5 Pro, and GPT-4o. The image generation is powered by Black Forest Labs’ Flux Pro for faster speed and efficiency over previous versions and rival generators.
Also: The best AI chatbots of 2025: ChatGPT, Copilot, and notable alternatives
Mistral claims that its open-source Le Chat assistant is powered by the world’s fastest inference engines, capable of responding to your prompts with up to 1,000 words per second, says TechCrunch, which found it faster than ChatGPT’s 4o model.
With ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and now DeepSeek popular among PC and mobile users, Mistral has its work cut out if it wants to compete with the major players. But with time and even more innovations, Le Chat may eke out its own top spot in the AI arena.
Keep your entertainment at your fingertips with the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K! Enjoy streaming in 4K Ultra HD with access to top services like Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and more. With an easy-to-use interface and voice remote, it’s the ultimate streaming device, now at only $21.99 — that’s 56% off!
With a 4.7/5-star rating from 43,582 reviews and 10K+ bought in the past month, it’s a top choice for home entertainment! Buy Now for $21.99 on Amazon!
Help Power Techcratic’s Future – Scan To Support
If Techcratic’s content and insights have helped you, consider giving back by supporting the platform with crypto. Every contribution makes a difference, whether it’s for high-quality content, server maintenance, or future updates. Techcratic is constantly evolving, and your support helps drive that progress.
As a solo operator who wears all the hats, creating content, managing the tech, and running the site, your support allows me to stay focused on delivering valuable resources. Your support keeps everything running smoothly and enables me to continue creating the content you love. I’m deeply grateful for your support, it truly means the world to me! Thank you!
BITCOIN bc1qlszw7elx2qahjwvaryh0tkgg8y68enw30gpvge Scan the QR code with your crypto wallet app |
DOGECOIN D64GwvvYQxFXYyan3oQCrmWfidf6T3JpBA Scan the QR code with your crypto wallet app |
ETHEREUM 0xe9BC980DF3d985730dA827996B43E4A62CCBAA7a Scan the QR code with your crypto wallet app |
Please read the Privacy and Security Disclaimer on how Techcratic handles your support.
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, Techcratic may earn from qualifying purchases.