In a bold move to strengthen its position in the artificial intelligence race, Google has hired Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan and a team of top engineers in a talent acquisition deal valued at $2.4 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.
The deal, which is not a traditional acquisition but rather a strategic “acquihire,” reflects the increasing premium placed on elite AI talent. Windsurf, a stealth AI infrastructure startup led by Mohan, had quickly gained attention in Silicon Valley for building cutting-edge foundation model tooling and training optimization systems. While the company had yet to publicly launch a product, insiders say its team was highly sought after by major tech firms.
Google’s move comes amid intensifying competition with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Amazon, all of which have aggressively pursued AI startups and talent in recent months. By bringing Mohan and key members of his team into its fold, Google aims to accelerate its internal model development and infrastructure capabilities, especially within Google DeepMind and the Google Cloud AI division.
While the full terms remain undisclosed, the $2.4 billion figure reportedly includes equity-based incentives and long-term compensation packages spread across several years.
This is one of the largest talent-centric deals in the AI space to date, signaling a shift in how Big Tech values intellectual capital over product portfolios. Industry analysts suggest this could set a new precedent, where the race for general AI leadership increasingly hinges on securing the brightest minds—regardless of whether their startups are publicly established or not.
Mohan, who previously held engineering roles at Amazon Web Services and launched several developer-focused AI tools, is expected to take a senior leadership role within Google’s AI infrastructure group.
With this hire, Google isn’t just acquiring a team—it’s making a statement: In the age of AI, talent is the ultimate asset.
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