Speaking on Thursday, Mistral CEO and co-founder Arthur Mensch argued that Europe cannot afford to limit its AI capabilities while geopolitical rivals continue to advance military applications of the same technology.
“We’re all for peace, but if you look at our rivals and adversaries in the world, they’re using artificial intelligence ... As long as we have adversaries that are threatening, and they are threatening, we do need to have our own capabilities,” Mensch said.
The remarks came in response to a papal document released on Monday, in which Pope Leo urged global authorities to establish stronger oversight of artificial intelligence. The pontiff warned that AI systems could amplify misinformation, destabilise societies, and contribute to “perpetual conflict” if deployed irresponsibly, particularly in military settings.
Mistral, one of Europe’s most prominent AI startups, has already established ties with the French military, supplying models for defence-related applications. The company has positioned itself as part of Europe’s effort to build technological sovereignty in a field currently dominated by U.S. and Chinese firms.
Despite ethical concerns raised by religious and civil society leaders, Mensch maintained that strategic restraint by Europe would be unrealistic in the current geopolitical climate, where AI is increasingly integrated into defence systems, intelligence gathering, and cyber operations.
Expansion of European AI Infrastructure
Alongside its policy stance, Mistral also announced plans to expand its computing infrastructure with a new data centre in Les Ulis, France. The facility is expected to provide around 10 megawatts of computing power and is scheduled to begin operations in the third quarter of 2026.
The project forms part of a broader investment strategy by the company, which has committed to building out large-scale computing capacity across Europe. Mistral has already announced additional data centres in Sweden and France as part of a €4 billion expansion plan aimed at reaching 200 megawatts of total computing power by the end of 2027.
However, the rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure has also faced increasing scrutiny in several countries, including France, where environmental and energy consumption concerns have triggered local opposition to new projects.
AI Anxiety and Public Reaction
The debate around artificial intelligence has also spilled into public discourse, particularly among younger audiences. Responding to viral footage showing students booing technology executives at U.S. graduation ceremonies, Mensch acknowledged growing unease about the pace of AI-driven change.
“I think there is some expected anguish around artificial intelligence, in that it’s profoundly changing the way people are working,” he said.
“It’s not the first time that people are a bit anguished at something coming up. But we’ll be fine. We’ll find a way to use it efficiently,” he added.
Growing Divide Over AI’s Role in Security and Society
The exchange underscores a widening global divide over how artificial intelligence should be governed — particularly as it becomes increasingly embedded in military systems, economic infrastructure, and public life.
While the Vatican and other global voices are calling for tighter controls and ethical boundaries, AI developers and defence stakeholders argue that strategic competition makes technological advancement unavoidable.
As governments and companies race to scale up infrastructure and capability, the debate over whether AI is primarily a tool for stability or a driver of new forms of conflict is likely to intensify further.