Global shipping leader CMA CGM and rising French artificial intelligence firm Mistral AI have unveiled a €100 million strategic partnership aimed at transforming customer service operations and bolstering fact-checking efforts in media. Announced on Sunday, the five-year agreement is also being positioned as a demonstration of national unity and resilience amid mounting international trade tensions.

This new alliance will elevate CMA CGM’s total investment in artificial intelligence to €500 million ($550 million), with a sharp focus on enhancing efficiencies in its shipping and logistics branches as well as its French media outlets, including BFM TV. According to CMA CGM CEO Rodolphe Saadé, while specific returns on investment remain confidential, the goal is to achieve operational rollouts within 6 to 12 months—particularly targeting customer advisors who currently handle over a million email queries per week.

The partnership is a timely move as global investors increasingly scrutinize the AI sector, especially following the emergence of low-cost competitors like China’s DeepSeek. Mistral AI, which garnered significant praise at a Paris AI summit earlier this year, has emerged as a European counterweight to U.S. tech giants such as OpenAI. Endorsed by French President Emmanuel Macron, the startup has already established collaborations with major companies like automaker Stellantis.

With CMA CGM as one of its backers, Mistral AI is forecasting a dramatic surge in business, anticipating a tenfold increase in revenue between December 2024 and December 2025. Co-founder and CEO Arthur Mensch emphasized that these projects will yield tangible productivity benefits in the near term, helping validate the growing hype around generative AI in the European market.

Despite the optimism, broader geopolitical dynamics loom over the partnership. Regulatory differences between the EU and the U.S. regarding AI development have strained tech relations, exacerbated by former President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of sweeping trade tariffs. Saadé noted that the deal was a signal of confidence in the French economy during an era of uncertainty, though he reaffirmed the group’s commitment to global markets and open trade.

While solidifying its domestic presence through this Mistral deal, CMA CGM continues to expand abroad. The shipping giant, currently the world’s third-largest container line, recently pledged $20 billion in investment in the United States—a move praised by Trump. It also maintains a $150 million AI partnership with Google, reinforcing its strategy of leveraging cutting-edge technology through global collaborations.