Google hires key Windsurf staff and pays $2.4B license fee after rival OpenAI's failed bid, boosting DeepMind’s AI efforts.

• Windsurf CEO, co-founder, and R&D team join Google DeepMind to work on agentic coding under Project Gemini.
• Google gains non-exclusive rights to Windsurf tech; no stake taken, deal avoids regulatory acquisition review.
• Windsurf retains independence; interim CEO named as Jeff Wang, focus shifts to enterprise innovation post-deal.