CMA CGM Invests €500 Million in AI, Multiple Usage Costs

CMA CGM has invested 500 million euros over three years in AI, through contracts with Google and Mistral. Behind these amounts, companies mention an accumulation of licenses and pay-per-use payments, including for access to third-party models, with risks of budget overruns.

Licenses and Pay-Per-Use Billing Highlighted by an Industry Insider

An industry insider, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that they pay a license fee to Google to access several AI models. They specified that using Claude on Google’s platform requires an additional pay-per-use payment. According to them, if usage is not monitored, costs can quickly escalate. An unattributed quote mentions that, for some clients, prices have multiplied by five to ten times.

Financial Commitment: €500M and Two Contracts for CMA CGM

Over the past three years, CMA CGM has invested 500 million euros in artificial intelligence. The company has entered into an agreement with Google, the amount of which has not been disclosed, as well as a second contract worth 100 million euros over five years with Mistral, a French company.

What the Agreements Cover and the Promise of Transparency

Julien Smadja, head of AI at CMA CGM, stated that these contracts include the consumption of models, the development of custom solutions, and the provision of dedicated teams. He emphasized a partnership approach that is presented as very transparent regarding costs.