In a shocking twist, Google DeepMind is now hiring Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and some of the startup’s top AI coding talent. A Google spokesperson confirmed the hiring of Windsurf’s leaders in a statement to TechCrunch.

OpenAI’s deal to buy Windsurf is off, and Google will instead hire the Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and some of Windsurf’s R&D employees from the company to join DeepMind, Google and Windsurf announced Friday.

Alphabet's Google has hired several key staff members from AI code generation startup Windsurf, the companies announced on Friday, in a surprise move following an attempt by its rival OpenAI to acquire the startup.