As global AI companies sharpen their focus on India, French artificial intelligence firm Mistral AI is in talks to set up a Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Bengaluru, a move that signals its intent to deepen operations in the country and expand its international reach.
The development was confirmed by Karnataka’s Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil after a meeting with Audrey Herblin Stoop, Vice President – Global Public Affairs & Communication at Mistral AI. The discussion took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 in Davos.
According to Patil, the proposed GCC in Bengaluru will follow a phased growth strategy. The initial phase is expected to focus on engineering teams, with a gradual expansion into advanced research and scientific roles at a later stage. This approach is aimed at building long-term capabilities aligned with Mistral AI’s global roadmap.
The move comes at a time when several leading AI players are strengthening their presence in India. Anthropic is planning to open an office in Bengaluru in early 2026, while OpenAI has announced its first India office in New Delhi. In this competitive landscape, a GCC in India would help Mistral AI stay relevant and agile within the global AI ecosystem.
India’s strong talent base is a key factor behind this interest. Bengaluru stands out as the second-largest AI talent hub globally and is home to over 50% of India’s AI and ML workforce. This concentration of skilled professionals makes the city a preferred destination for frontier technology investments.
Karnataka has also highlighted its mature AI ecosystem, which includes 3 AI Centres of Excellence developed in collaboration with IISc, NASSCOM, and other ecosystem partners. These initiatives further strengthen the state’s position as a hub for advanced AI development.
Alongside AI-led growth, Karnataka is witnessing increased activity in digital infrastructure. Sify Technologies is preparing to launch a new data centre facility in the state, while Bharti Enterprises has shown interest in setting up a data centre, pointing to sustained momentum in technology investments.
Mistral AI’s potential GCC in Bengaluru reflects India’s rising importance in global AI engineering and research, while reinforcing Karnataka’s standing as a preferred destination for AI-driven Global Capability Centres.
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