OpenAI is the world's leading AI startup. For how long will depend on how well it fends off multi-front attacks from competitors like Meta and Google.

OpenAI’s discussions to buy Windsurf, the maker of a popular artificial intelligence coding assistant formerly known as Codeium, have ended. Instead, Google will hire Windsurf’s CEO, Varun Mohan, and some of the startup’s staff,

Google has acquired top AI coding talent from Windsurf, including CEO Varun Mohan and co-founder Douglas Chen, for its DeepMind division in a $2.4 billion deal. This move comes after OpenAI's acquisition attempt failed due to Microsoft's IP access demands.

The acquihire-on-steroids trend is unique to this tech boom, and could have big implications for current and future AI founders.

April 17, 2025: OpenAI has released o3 and 04-mini, two reasoning AI models designed to be extra good at programming, math, and science and that can use images to “think,” according to Engadget, This means that users can upload sketches or diagrams, for example, and even if they are of low quality, o3 and 04-mini will understand what is meant.

The artificial intelligence giant’s dizzying corporate structure and acquisitions raise privacy and safety concerns.