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kaashifyesterday at 10:19 AM3 repliesview on HN

It does mean that the milk industry is a low value add commodity business where suppliers compete primarily on price and only survive due to protectionism and subsidies.

Food is important for national security so we should subsidize it, but it's a cost center. It'll never drive growth.

If that's what Mistral is aiming for, it would probably be better to give up now.


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vincnetasyesterday at 10:45 AM

In some sense all commodities are "important for national security". Generic drugs are important for national security. Computer technology is important for national security. Im not sure what we arguing about. Im saying that AI is good thing to have like other commodity and it should net be one provider worth gazillion money.

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InsideOutSantayesterday at 11:51 AM

> If that's what Mistral is aiming for, it would probably be better to give up now.

If Mistral is aiming not to grow to infinity but instead to offer niche models at reasonable prices, should they give up now? I think I'm not sure what exactly you're saying.

vidarhyesterday at 10:57 AM

How we got from competition to assuming subsidies is beyond me.

There are a whole lot of commodity businesses that flourishes and that are profitable. It's true, that, yes, they will not have huge margins.

Grocery stores are like that - some of their suppliers might be subsidised but they are not, and many places they operate with typical margins in the 2% range. Discount supermarkets in the UK are operating on around 0.7% margins.

They are still huge, profitable businesses.

And they are examples of what happens when markets work.