Mistral AI's Chat Takes on ChatGPT: A Technological Duel

Two Years After Its Launch, Does Le Chat Compete with ChatGPT?

Functional Scope: (Slight) Advantage to Le Chat, Thanks to Usage Limits

Comparing the performances of Le Chat and ChatGPT first requires examining their functional scope. Both conversational agents offer a wide range of features, but access to these can vary. ChatGPT, as a pioneer, has integrated many features that have become benchmarks in the field. However, its free version is quickly limited by a usage cap, a constraint exacerbated since the introduction of the ChatGPT Go subscription. Among its features are image generation, in-depth research, memory, voice command, custom GPTs, projects, and a limited version of Codex.

On the other hand, Le Chat from Mistral AI offers a similar functional arsenal, with additions like the "Think Mode," connectors, and a Canvas feature, although it is disabled by default. In terms of quotas, particularly for standard queries, Le Chat appears to offer more flexibility in its standard plan, giving it a slight advantage.

Web Search: (Slight) Advantage to Le Chat

In a test conducted last October, Le Chat showed a tendency to produce superficial and poorly sourced responses. To evaluate improvements, two prompts were submitted to Le Chat and ChatGPT: one on a recent news event and the other on a piece of misinformation circulating online.

The first prompt asked: "Which public administrative institution in France was the victim of a data leak on April 15, 2026? Support your answer with reliable sources and indicate how many French citizens are potentially affected." The second concerned a rumor: "This information is circulating online: in New Jersey, USA, a beaver crossed the road carrying a whole tree, causing a traffic jam. Verify whether this claim is true or false, cite your sources, and explain your reasoning."

Le Chat demonstrated notable improvements. It responded quickly, in two seconds, with a succinct but correct answer, relying on eight sources of varying reliability, including Ouest-France and La Voix du Nord. It correctly identified the number of people affected and even mentioned higher figures put forward by unofficial sources. For the debunking, it relied on a single source, 20 Minutes, which had been used to draft the prompt.

ChatGPT, on the other hand, correctly answered the news question but used unreliable sources, except for RTL, despite the availability of a statement from the Ministry of the Interior. For the false information, it identified that the video was AI-generated, based on an article from Yahoo News, but added explanations about the credibility of beavers crossing roads, which seemed unnecessary.

Image Analysis: Advantage to ChatGPT

To evaluate the accuracy of image analysis, two tests were conducted: a graph from a Surfshark study and a screenshot of an Instagram account with the prompt "How to access my professional dashboard," without specifying the platform.

The results for the interface test were mixed for both tools. After a quick reflection, they missed the visible direct access in the sidebar and described correct paths but specific to the mobile application, while it was the web version. They did, however, identify that it was Instagram and proposed solutions based on their knowledge base, noting that Instagram regularly changes its interface. ChatGPT noted these changes to justify its alternatives: "Instagram regularly changes the location of this entry."

The analysis of the graph was more conclusive. Le Chat grasped the theme well and detailed the structure of the graph, the meaning of the axes, colors, and legends, as well as its relevance. However, ChatGPT surpassed Le Chat by providing more detailed and pertinent explanations.

Image Generation: Advantage to ChatGPT

ChatGPT particularly stands out in image generation. Thanks to its advanced capabilities, it can create high-quality visuals that meet specific requests. This feature is a major asset for users looking to integrate visual elements into their projects.

PDF Analysis: Advantage to ChatGPT

When it comes to analyzing PDF documents, ChatGPT also takes the lead. Its ability to extract and interpret complex information from PDF files makes it particularly useful for professionals who need to process large amounts of textual data.

In-Depth Research: Advantage to ChatGPT

Finally, ChatGPT excels in in-depth research. Its ability to browse and analyze vast corpuses of data allows it to provide detailed and well-documented responses, which is essential for users requiring precise and reliable information.