Microsoft’s Partnership With Mistral AI Avoids UK Antitrust Probe

May 17, 2024, 12:13 PM

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has determined that Microsoft’s partnership with Mistral AI does not qualify for an investigation under UK merger rules. The CMA concluded that Microsoft cannot materially influence Mistral AI's commercial policy, thereby avoiding an antitrust probe. This decision allows Microsoft to proceed with its collaboration with Mistral AI without regulatory scrutiny. Microsoft's stock saw a 0.4% pre-market increase following the announcement. The CMA also noted that Microsoft's stake in Mistral AI does not constitute a merger.