- Published on July 22, 2025
- In Global Tech
Unpopular Opinion: Windsurf Founders Did Not Abandon the Ship
“The founder and a few core staff get to build big things at Google, while the rest of the Windsurf is still protected as a brand by Cognition.”
Image by Nalini Narid
- By Siddharth Jindal
It has been over a week since Windsurf founders Varun Mohan and Douglas Chen left the company to join Google DeepMind. Since their departure, a fresh debate has started over whether it was morally right for them to walk away from the company.
Notably, both founders joined the AI research laboratory along with some key R&D employees on July 11, while the rest of the company was acquired by Cognition on July 14. The company did not disclose the acquisition amount.
Mohan’s decision to leave shortly after the collapse of a potential $3 billion deal with OpenAI has been interpreted by several industry leaders as prioritising personal opportunity over the interests of the wider team.
Taking a strong stance, venture capitalist Vinod Khosla said, “Windsurf and others are rea
📣 Want to advertise in AIM? Book here
Siddharth Jindal
Siddharth is a media graduate who loves to explore tech through journalism and putting forward ideas worth pondering about in the era of artificial intelligence.
Related Posts
How This Coimbatore SaaS Firm Cracked Hidden Enterprise Problem Costing Millions
Founded in 2015, now based in Portland, Responsive supports more than 20% of Fortune 100 companies
Enterprises Beware: Agent-Washing Clouds the Future of AI
Vendors mislabel copilots as agents, raising regulatory and operational risks for firms chasing the promise of agentic AI.
How Neysa Stands Out in the IndiaAI GPU Race
Unlike other providers focused on GPU allocation, Neysa claims to deliver an end-to-end AI cloud platform.
Two Indian Engineers on a Mission to Automate Home Cooking for the World
In a live demonstration for AIM, Posha prepared paneer tikka masala in approximately 25 minutes
BharatGen and the Pursuit of Sovereign, Scalable AI for India
“Knowledge-driven components are important because we don’t want everything to be just algorithmic innovation.”
How Pradhi AI Embeds Emotional Intelligence in Voice AI
As businesses recognise the potential of voice-driven tech, Pradhi AI is laying the foundation for an empathetic, responsive AI ecosystem.
Mangaluru Looks to Build Its Own Tech Identity, Not Replicate Bangalore
“The coastal city could showcase tangible results by applying deep tech to areas it already dominates”
Google’s Gemini Nano Banana and the Cost of Convenience
The company’s new AI image and photo editor deepens concerns over data use and consent gaps, experts warn.
Download the easiest way to
stay informed
stay informed
