OpenAI is in talks to buy Windsurf (formerly Codeium), a startup developing an AI assistant for programming. The deal could exceed $3 billion, Bloomberg reports.
Windsurf, which specializes in developing AI for coding, was recently valued at $1.25 billion. The company is currently seeking funding at a valuation of $3 billion.
The startup launched in 2021 and has since raised over $200 million in venture capital. The company’s investors include Greenoaks Capital Partners and AIX Ventures. If the deal goes through, OpenAI will be able to compete directly with other big players in the market, such as Anthropic, Microsoft-owned GitHub, and Anysphere, the developer of the Cursor tool.
The market for AI programming tools is currently growing rapidly, with companies increasingly interested in mergers and acquisitions. Investors are also actively backing startups like Anysphere, whose valuation reached nearly $10 billion earlier this year.
In September 2024, OpenAI successfully closed a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank Group, valuing ChatGPT at $300 billion. The acquisition of Windsurf will be an important part of the company's strategy to grow and strengthen its position in the AI programming tools market.