# Mistral's open model Shieldstral matches much larger safety models at a fraction of the size > Source: > Published: 2026-08-05 16:35:07+00:00 # Mistral's open model Shieldstral matches much larger safety models at a fraction of the size By Jonathan KemperSource: [The Decoder](https://the-decoder.com) [Mistral](/glossary/mistral)'s new 3B Shieldstral model checks AI inputs and outputs for safety violations using natural language yes-or-no questions instead of fixed categories. It matches models seven times its size in some benchmarks. Operators can set their own criteria at runtime rather than rely on a third party's category system, and the model can run locally. The article [Mistral's open model Shieldstral matches much larger safety models at a fraction of the size](https://the-decoder.com/mistrals-open-model-shieldstral-matches-much-larger-safety-models/) appeared first on [The Decoder](https://the-decoder.com). Get AI news in your inbox Daily digest of what matters in AI.