In the bustling world of artificial intelligence, major competitors are competing to dominate the conversation, for example: ChatGPT et Mistral. While both offer impressive text generation performance, a difference is immediately apparent when you look at their respective interfaces. Spoiler alert: Mistral hasn't yet understood that UX/UI is important.
So why does ChatGPT attract more people? Why does Mistral, despite its high-performance models, struggle to attract the general public? Sit down, we're going to talk design, user experience and that little thing that makes an interface pleasant or… repulsive.
A first contact that counts
when you open ChatGPT, you are greeted by a clean, minimalist, well-thought-out interface. A fluid conversation space, a highlighting of new features and quick access to the different versions of the model. In short, a UX which exudes simplicity and accessibility.
And Mistral? Ah… Mistral.
You arrive on a command line terminal (almost). The interface is cold, technical, not at all engaging. No big cool buttons, no well-designed chat bubbles, no design that makes you want to stay. Just a text field that looks like an old API.
We quickly understand that Mistral is mainly aimed at developersThe problem is that even they appreciate a good UI (yes, yes, I see you devs who love VS Code with its stylish themes).
UX, the decisive factor
Why is ChatGPT more used than Mistral, even when the latter offers an ultra-powerful open-source model?
Because User experience is half the product.
OpenAI figured out a simple trick: people want a smooth, intuitive experience. ChatGPT offers:
- A natural conversation with a clear display
- Easily accessible options (model selection, memory on/off, quick shortcuts)
- A responsive and optimized UI for mobile and desktop
At Mistral, we feel that design is an afterthought. No special effort to make navigation pleasant, no strong visual identity, and an approach that gives the impression that the tool is reserved for experts.
Result? The general public is confused.
The “great tech but unreadable” syndrome
We've seen this elsewhere. How many times have excellent tech products did not break through due to lack of good design ?
- Linux vs MacOS → Linux is ultra-powerful, but MacOS is a thousand times more user-friendly. Who wins in the mainstream market?
- Stock Android vs iOS → Android without an overlay is effective, but iOS has a visual consistency that appeals to the general public.
- Google+ vs Facebook → (Ok, no one remembers Google+, but you get the idea).
Mistral clearly has the tech to compete with OpenAI, but As long as they don't improve the user experience, they will lose market share.
Design, the underestimated superpower
History shows us that The best tech doesn't always win. This is the user experience that makes the difference.
Mistral must understand one thing: performance is good, but if access is annoying, no one will use itA good UI is not just “beautiful design”, it is a gateway to a complex technology, making it accessible to the greatest number of people.
If Mistral wants to compete with OpenAI, it will have to invest in real UX/UI. Because, for now, they are playing with a Ferrari engine… in a Lada body.
Conclusion: Design is also an identity
Mistral doesn't have a bad interface per se: it looks a lot like ChatGPT. The problem is that it lacks soul. Where OpenAI has managed to impose a strong identity with a fluid interface, pleasant curves and a feeling of mastered simplicity, Mistral remains a little behind.
Their visual approach with these effects of stylized pixels gives an assumed tech side, but that is not enough to create a strong and memorable brand. It lacks elegance, airiness, and above all a real visual bias that makes an impression.
If they really want to assert themselves against ChatGPT, they must assert their identity with a more coherent, more refined artistic direction, and an experience that makes you want to explore it. Because in the end, In such a competitive market, you don't just choose an AI model... you also choose an experience.
We too often tend to underestimate the power of design. Yet, a good UI can turn good technology into commercial success.
Mistral, if you're reading this: hire designers. Quick ! 😁
Philippe Elovenko, UX/UI designer / Design System Master at UX-Republic
