Hwaseong: Executives from Samsung Electronics Co. and French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI have engaged in discussions about potential cooperation in the AI memory sector, according to industry sources.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Arthur Mensch, co-founder and CEO of Mistral AI, met with Jeon Young-hyun, head of Samsung Electronics' device solutions division. The meeting took place on Thursday at Samsung's Hwaseong campus, focusing on collaboration within AI chip supply chains and related technologies. Mensch's visit to South Korea coincided with French President Emmanuel Macron's diplomatic visit to Seoul for talks with President Lee Jae Myung.

Mistral AI aims to secure a stable supply of semiconductors to bolster its large language model, Mistral Large, and expand its AI infrastructure. Mensch's visit to Samsung's semiconductor facility is viewed as part of this strategic effort. The company, often likened to Europe's version of OpenAI, is keen on fortifying its AI capabilities through reliable chip sources.

"Following recent discussions between Samsung executives and Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices, Mistral AI also appears to be pursuing talks with Samsung to ensure a reliable chip supply amid tight memory market conditions," an industry official commented, highlighting the competitive nature of the current memory market landscape.