Windsurf’s Ceo Goes To Google; Openai’s Acquisition Falls Apart

OpenAI’s deal to acquire nan viral AI coding startup Windsurf fell isolated connected Friday, according to The Verge.

In a shocking twist, Google DeepMind is now hiring Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and immoderate of nan startup’s apical AI coding talent. A Google spokesperson confirmed nan hiring of Windsurf’s leaders successful a connection to TechCrunch.

“We’re excited to invited immoderate apical AI coding talent from Windsurf’s squad to Google DeepMind to beforehand our activity successful agentic coding,” said Google spokesperson Chris Pappas successful an email to TechCrunch.

Notably, Google is not taking a liking successful Windsurf and will not person immoderate power complete nan company. However, arsenic portion of nan deal, Google will person a nonexclusive licence to definite Windsurf technology, though nan AI coding startup remains free to licence its exertion to others.

The woody represents nan AI ecosystem’s latest reverse-acquihire, successful which a institution acquires a startup’s apical talent and licenses its exertion but does not outright get nan company. Google antecedently conducted a akin woody to prosecute backmost Character.AI CEO Noam Shazeer, arsenic did Microsoft to prosecute Mustafa Suleyman. These deals person helped respective large tech companies summation their position successful nan AI title without drafting regulatory scrutiny.

“We are excited to beryllium joining Google DeepMind on pinch immoderate of nan Windsurf team,” said Mohan and Chen successful a connection to TechCrunch. “We are proud of what Windsurf has built complete nan past 4 years and are excited to spot it move guardant pinch their world people squad and kick-start nan adjacent phase.”

As of Friday, Windsurf’s caput of business, Jeff Wang, will return complete arsenic nan startup’s interim CEO, he announced successful a post connected societal media. Most of Windsurf’s 250 personification squad is not headed to Google DeepMind and will proceed offering its AI coding devices for endeavor customers.

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