AI startup Cognition has announced it’s acquiring Windsurf – just days after Google poached Windsurf’s CEO Varun Mohan and several top executives. Google is paying around $2.4 billion in licensing fees and compensation. Cognition will take over Windsurf’s intellectual property, products, brand, and remaining team. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.
The acquisition highlights the fierce competition for AI talent between Google, Meta, and OpenAI. OpenAI had previously been in talks to buy Windsurf for around $3 billion. Cognition, known for its AI coding tool Devin, emphasized that all new team members will be treated fairly and included financially in the deal. The goal is to build one unified team after the merger.