OpenAI’s acquisition of Windsurf has fallen through, leading Google to hire Windsurf’s CEO Varun Mohan, cofounder Douglas Chen, and several R&D employees to enhance its Google DeepMind operations. The announcement was made on Friday by both companies.
With this transition, Mohan and his team will focus on agentic coding as part of their work on Google’s advanced AI model, Gemini. Although Google will not have ownership of Windsurf, it will acquire a non-exclusive license to utilize elements of Windsurf’s technology.
Following the shift, Jeff Wang, previously Windsurf’s head of business, has stepped up as the interim CEO, while Graham Moreno takes on the role of president of Windsurf.
Chris Pappas, a Google spokesperson, expressed excitement about integrating talent from Windsurf, emphasizing their commitment to enhancing the capabilities of Gemini, which has garnered a reputation as one of the leading models in the industry.
Mohan and Chen shared their enthusiasm about the move, underscoring their pride in Windsurf’s achievements and eagerness to engage with the talented team at Google DeepMind.
Interestingly, prior to this shift, there were reports that OpenAI was negotiating a $3 billion acquisition of Windsurf, highlighting the competitive landscape in AI development and talent acquisition.
This change could signify a new era for Windsurf under Google DeepMind’s umbrella, fostering innovation in artificial intelligence as the industry continues to evolve.