Ecosia is shifting its AI strategy by moving away from Mistral AI in favor of open-source models. The search engine plans to utilize the German platform Melious.ai, which provides AI inference services powered by low-carbon energy. This transition allows the company to maintain its infrastructure and data processing within Europe while leveraging diverse international AI developments.
Founder Christian Kroll stated that the decision prioritizes open models for their cost-efficiency, flexibility, and reduced energy consumption. While Ecosia has experimented with models from Alibaba, Z.ai, and Moonshot AI, the company maintains that its focus is on model openness rather than geographic origin. Ecosia is actively addressing concerns regarding political bias and censorship in AI-generated content.
The founder expressed concerns regarding Mistral AI's independence, citing the company's reliance on foreign investors, particularly from the United States. In contrast, Ecosia operates under a steward-ownership structure established in 2018, which prohibits the sale of the company or the distribution of profits to shareholders. Ecosia was initially backed by German entrepreneur Tim Schumacher.
Mistral AI recently experienced significant financial growth, securing €3 billion in a Series D round led by Samsung Electronics in September 2026, reaching a valuation of over €21 billion. Previous financing includes €722 million in debt in March 2026 and a €1.7 billion Series C round in September 2025. The company also invested €2.9 million in the Italian startup Clastix.
