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

Varun Mohan, a math prodigy turned MIT engineer, co-founded Windsurf, an AI startup revolutionizing software development. Google recognized Windsurf's

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

Google's strategic acquisition of Windsurf leaders strengthens its AI coding efforts amidst intense competition for top talent.

Varun Mohan, MIT-educated co-founder of AI startup Windsurf, was hired by Google in a move that came after OpenAI’s reported bid to acquire the company.

Cognition CEO Scott Wu and interim Windsurf CEO Jeff Wang said they would start by integrating the AI-powered engineer Devin into Windsurf.

In one of the largest acqui-hires to date, Meta last month recruited Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang, along with members of his team, to join a newly formed A.I. group. The move followed Meta’s investment of more than $14 billion in Scale AI, through which it secured a non-voting stake in the startup.

Google hires Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan & co-founder Douglas Chen to lead its Gemini AI project, signalling a major move in the AI talent war against rivals like OpenAI

Google scores a major win in the AI talent war by snapping up key minds behind one of coding AI’s most promising startups.

Varun Mohan is of Indian descent, having been born and raised in Sunnyvale, California, by children of Indian immigrants. He went to The Harker School in San Jose, and then to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned a Bachelor's and Master of Engineering in Computer Science.