In a stunning reversal, Google DeepMind acquires Windsurf’s top talent just weeks after OpenAI’s $3B deal collapsed over IP tensions with Microsoft.

Cognition swiftly snapped up the remnants of Windsurf. The deal highlights the essential role of data in AI advancement.

As of Friday, Windsurf’s head of business, Jeff Wang, will take over as the startup’s interim CEO, he announced in a post on social media. Most of Windsurf’s 250 person team is not headed to Google DeepMind and will continue offering its AI coding tools for enterprise customers.

With a $2.4 billion agreement to license technology and hire top talent from AI coding startup Windsurf, Google has stepped up its efforts to dominate artificial intelligence. Varun Mohan, the CEO and co-founder of Windsurf,

The "acqui-hire" strategy is on fire in this battle among tech titans seeking AI dominance and a Goliath just beat David

Google is set to hire Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and some top researchers at the artificial intelligence startup. According to reports, the development happened after OpenAI’s deal to acquire the AI coding startup for $3 billion collapsed.

The move is the culmination of a turbulent period for Windsurf, and indicates that agentic IDEs have become a new battleground.

In a surprising move, Cognition– the makers of autonomous coding tool Devin— acquired what was left of its rival Windsurf after the company’s cofounders Varun Mohan and Douglas Chen and other staff members were poached by Google DeepMind for $2.