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

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 has hired Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan and several top R&D staff in a $2.4 billion licensing and compensation deal, intensifying the AI coding talent war. According to CNBC, the search giant will not invest in Windsurf but secured a nonexclusive license to parts of its technology.