Mistral joins rush to develop AI for robots

French AI company Mistral released Robostral Navigate, a model that enables robots to follow plain-language instructions using a single RGB camera, achieving a 76.6% score on the R2R-CE benchmark. The model outperforms systems using depth sensors or multiple cameras by 4.5 percentage points and reduces training time from months to days, marking a significant advance in AI-driven robotics.

French AI company Mistral claims its latest AI model offers a more efficient way to train and operate robots. The model, Robostral Navigate, can guide a robot through plain language instructions, using a single RGB camera to find its way. Mistral said that this was a radical departure from most other models, which rely on depth sensors, LiDAR or several cameras working together. Robostral Navigate has achieved a score of 76.6% on the R2R-CE Room-to-Room in Continuous Environments benchmark for robots following instructions. This beats the best system using depth sensors or multiple cameras by 4.5 percentage-points, despite the Robostral Navigate using neither of these aids, and puts it 9.7 percentage-points ahead of the next-best single-camera robot. Mistral said it had designed the model to autonomously navigate complex environments including offices, residential and commercial buildings, and outdoor settings. A key feature of the new model is that it is easier to train: Mistral said the number of training tokens is reduced significantly compared to other models, reducing training runs from months to days. Robotics is an area ripe for AI research: https://www.cio.com/article/4125160/preparing-for-physical-ai-5-critical-infrastructure-components.html The World Economic Forum at Davos in February heard how AI-driven robotics could drive advances in productivity https://www.computerworld.com/article/4127224/amid-ai-gloom-and-doom-wef-attendees-were-bullish-on-physical-ai.html . Other AI model developers are ahead of the game: Nvidia announced robotic AI efforts https://www.computerworld.com/article/4045542/nvidias-new-computer-gives-ai-brains-to-robots.html in August 2025. This article first appeared on Computerworld.