Google has hired Varun Mohan, co-founder and CEO of Windsurf, as part of its push to strengthen its AI team. The talent race heated up after both Mohan and co-founder Douglas Chen chose to join Google instead of OpenAI, according to earlier reports.
As per a recent post from Analytics India Mag. (AIM) revealed that Google’s $2.4 billion deal for a “nonexclusive license to certain Windsurf technologies”. It would allow the company to continue licensing its tools to others.
This comes after reports revealed a $3 billion deal in the talks between Windsurf and OpenAI, as per CNBC. The Google DeepMind-Windsurf deal highlights the intensifying competition among tech giants in the field of agentic coding and AI-powered developer tools. Google’s AI research arm will directly benefit from the arrival of Mohan and Douglas Chen, another co-founder of Windsurf, as they join the company to advance Google’s Gemini.
Who is Varun Mohan?
As per LinkedIn, Varun Mohan has completed his education from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. With a background blending engineering and entrepreneurship, Varun has led teams pushing the boundaries of AI-assisted software development. In 2025, he makes headlines as Google DeepMind brings him and part of Windsurf’s senior R&D team on board to enhance its Gemini project.
Jeff Wang, Windsurf’s newly appointed interim CEO, clarified the company’s future direction following the announcement. “Most of Windsurf’s world-class team will continue to build the Windsurf product to maximise its impact in the enterprise,” Wang said, reaffirming that the startup will remain focused on its mission to deliver advanced AI tools for developers and businesses.
Industry analysts view the move as further evidence of an escalating AI talent war, as companies like Google, OpenAI, and others race to recruit the brightest minds and proprietary technologies to shape the future of software development.
