Windsurf CEO opens up about ‘very bleak’ mood before Cognition deal

AI News - TechCrunch
Jul 19, 2025 17:20
Anthony Ha
1 views
aistartupstechnology

Summary

Windsurf CEO Jeff Wang revealed on X that the period leading up to the company’s acquisition by Cognition was marked by significant uncertainty and disappointment, especially after failed talks with OpenAI and Google DeepMind hiring away their team. The acquisition highlights the intense competition among major AI players to secure top talent and innovative startups, underscoring the volatility and high stakes in the AI industry.

Days after AI coding startup Windsurf announced that it’s being acquired by Cognition, Windsurf startup Jeff Wang took to X to offer more details about the drama and uncertainty around the deal. Windsurf was previously reported to be in acquisition talks with OpenAI, but that deal fell apart, with Google DeepMind instead hiring the startup’s […]