French shipping giant CMA CGM has entered a five-year, €100 million ($110 million) partnership with homegrown tech firm Mistral AI to develop customized artificial intelligence solutions for its maritime, logistics, and media operations.

As part of the agreement, a dedicated team of Mistral AI experts will be stationed at CMA CGM’s Marseille headquarters and at Grand Central, the base of its media division CMA Media.

For shipping and logistics, the focus will be on streamlining and personalizing customer experiences through solutions like automated claims processing, intelligent e-commerce tools, and advanced document management systems.

"This collaboration marks a decisive step in CMA CGM’s AI transformation," said Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM. "Together, we will develop tailored solutions to reshape our businesses—from shipping to logistics and media—delivering tangible benefits for our customers and employees. With Mistral AI, we’ve chosen a French tech leader that combines excellence, digital sovereignty, and a strong sense of responsibility to build AI that serves both our performance and our values."

Both companies are committed to accelerating the adoption of generative AI (GenAI) across the group.

"Building on the rise of large language models (LLMs), the emergence of more autonomous agents paves the way for new forms of automation and more natural, context-aware interactions," CMA CGM said in a press release. "This breakthrough technology will fundamentally reshape how teams operate—automating repetitive tasks, boosting productivity, and freeing up time for higher-value strategic work."

CMA CGM has already allocated €500 million for AI initiatives, forming strategic partnerships with Google and Perplexity while investing in startups like PoolSide and Dataiku. In 2023, the group reinforced its commitment by co-founding Kyutai, a nonprofit AI research lab.

About Mistral AI

Founded by ex-Meta and Google DeepMind engineers Arthur Mensch, Guillaume Lample, and Timothée Lacroix, Mistral AI specializes in open-source large language models (LLMs), delivering efficient and customizable multilingual AI solutions. Key investors include:

• Lightspeed Venture Partners
• French billionaires Rodolphe Saadé and Xavier Niel
• Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt
• VC firms DST Global and General Catalyst
• Corporate backers like Nvidia, Samsung, Salesforce, Cisco, IBM, and BNP Paribas