How Microsoft ‘killed’ OpenAI’s $3 billion acquisition of WindSurf, making Google the ‘big winner’

OpenAI’s $3 billion deal to acquire AI coding startup Windsurf collapsed due to Microsoft tensions over intellectual property access. Google swiftly stepped in, securing Windsurf’s talent and licensing rights for $2.4 billion, integrating CEO Varun Mohan and co-founder Douglas Chen into its DeepMind unit. OpenAI’s $3 billion deal to acquire AI coding startup Windsurf collapsed due to Microsoft tensions over intellectual property access. Google swiftly stepped in, securing Windsurf’s talent and licensing rights for $2.4 billion, integrating CEO Varun Mohan and co-founder Douglas Chen into its DeepMind unit.