ASML to become top shareholder in French startup Mistral AI: report

ASML is investing €1.3 billion into the French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI. This will make the Dutch chip machine maker a top shareholder at Mistral and will likely also give ASML a seat on Mistral’s board, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

According to the news agency’s sources, the move is intended to strengthen Europe’s technology sovereignty.

ASML committed to contributing the bulk of Mistral’s current €1.7 billion fundraising round. The round will make the French startup the most valuable AI company in Europe, Reuters’ sources said.

Mistral has been called Europe’s AI leader and competes with American giants like OpenAI and Google. ASML is considered the world leader in chip-making technology. This investment ties together two European technology leaders and would help make Europe more resilient against American and Chinese AI models, the sources said.

Neither company responded to Reuters’ questions on the matter.