Paris - In a significant move on Thursday, French AI firm Mistral unveiled a suite of new features for its assistant, "Le Chat".
The goal of this initiative is to elevate the assistant's capabilities, transforming it into a comprehensive productivity tool ready to stand against long-dominant competitors.
At the forefront of these additions is the "Deep Research" feature. It effectively turns the assistant into a sophisticated researcher, capable of planning and executing extensive web searches to answer complex questions.
Instead of providing a quick reply, the system gathers information from multiple credible sources and presents it to the user as a structured, well-referenced report.
Elisa Salamanca, Mistral's Head of Product, explained that the new system delves into a wide array of sources to address a specific query.
She added that the feature holds significant value for both consumers and businesses, suitable for creating detailed travel plans as well as conducting in-depth market research in a professional setting.
The AI Race with Google and OpenAI
Mistral isn't the first to introduce such technology; others have paved the way. Google has implemented a similar tool in its Gemini assistant, while OpenAI offers advanced search capabilities for ChatGPT users.
Consequently, Mistral's entry into this field is less of a choice and more of a strategic necessity to remain in the spotlight.
Alongside Deep Research, the update includes other tools to boost productivity.
The company introduced a new voice mode named "Voxtral," which allows for voice-based interaction with the assistant, removing the need to type.
It's powered by a recently released open-source model from the company, capable of understanding and seamlessly switching between multiple languages.
On another front, the company introduced "Projects," a system that functions like organizational folders. Users can group conversations, files, and ideas related to a single topic into one central, organized space—a helpful feature for managing long-term tasks.
Performance Beyond the Surface
While the new updates are available to all, Mistral appears to have a particular focus on the enterprise sector. Its key strength lies in how it handles sensitive data.
In this context, Salamanca noted that many clients, especially in sectors like banking, defense, and government, avoid conventional cloud services due to data privacy concerns.
For that reason, Mistral has developed solutions that allow its "Le Chat" assistant to connect directly with a company's internal data on its own private servers (on-premises).
This approach offers a robust alternative for companies wary of uploading their data to cloud platforms controlled by major tech giants. By doing so, Mistral positions itself as a strategic choice focused on security and digital sovereignty—a direction that resonates strongly in Europe.
