A potential investment that could reshape the European AI landscape is quietly taking shape on the negotiation table. On July 22, according to an earlier report by the Financial Times in the UK, Samsung is considering further investment in the French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI. This is not Samsung's first bet on the company—its venture capital division had previously provided financial support to Mistral AI. If this round is finalized, it will represent another deepened partnership between the two sides.

According to sources, the figures are quite specific. Mistral AI still plans to start its Series D funding round with a valuation of 20 billion euros, and Samsung may invest 1 billion euros in this round, equivalent to about 7.728 billion yuan at the current exchange rate. For a European startup that has only been around for a few years, an意向 of a single billion euros is itself a significant endorsement of its value by the market.

The weight of this deal goes far beyond the amount on paper. After recent regulatory measures taken by the U.S. government, as a representative non-Chinese and non-American open-source artificial intelligence company, Mistral AI's importance to the AI independence of Europe and beyond has been further highlighted. As global AI capabilities become increasingly concentrated among a few Chinese and American giants, a company rooted in Europe and committed to an open-weight approach has become a key pivot for many regions to maintain their technological sovereignty. When investors bet on it, they are essentially buying a policy of regional autonomy.

In addition to Samsung, another player is also involved in this funding round. According to reports, the Scaleup Europe fund under Sweden's EQT is also in talks to participate in Mistral AI's Series D funding round. The gathering of multiple capitals indicates that the independent narrative of this French company is being revalued by more people with real money.