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Google Hires Key Windsurf Executives in $2.4 Billion Deal to Boost AI Coding Efforts

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Alphabet’s Google has secured several leading staff members from AI code-generation startup Windsurf as part of a $2.4 billion licensing deal, the companies announced on Friday. The deal grants Google non-exclusive rights to use some of Windsurf’s technology but does not involve Google taking any ownership stake or controlling interest in the startup.

Windsurf CEO Varun Mohan, co-founder Douglas Chen, and members of the startup’s research and development team will join Google’s DeepMind AI division, focusing on advancing agentic coding projects, particularly the Gemini initiative. This move follows months of Windsurf’s discussions with OpenAI about a potential acquisition valued at around $3 billion.

Google praised the acquisition of top AI coding talent, positioning the deal as a strategic win to accelerate innovation in AI-assisted coding tools. Windsurf investors will gain liquidity through the licensing fees while maintaining their stakes in the company.

This deal is part of a growing trend of “acquihire” arrangements in the tech sector, where major companies hire startup teams without acquiring full ownership, often sidestepping regulatory scrutiny. Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have all engaged in similar deals in recent years, sparking some antitrust investigations.

Windsurf will continue operating independently with most of its approximately 250 employees remaining, and Jeff Wang stepping in as interim CEO, with Graham Moreno appointed as president. The startup plans to prioritize product innovation for enterprise clients going forward.

EssilorLuxottica Shares Surge After Meta Acquires Nearly 3% Stake

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Shares of EssilorLuxottica (ESLX.PA), the Franco-Italian eyewear giant known for Ray-Ban, jumped 5.4% to 252 euros on Wednesday, becoming the top performer on the STOXX 600 index. The rise followed reports that Meta Platforms (META.O) acquired a nearly 3% stake in the company, valued at about 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion).

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, already partners with EssilorLuxottica on smart glasses production and is reportedly considering increasing its stake to around 5%. Neither company immediately commented on the transaction.

Analysts at Bernstein interpret Meta’s investment as a strong endorsement of EssilorLuxottica’s potential in the smart glasses market. The move builds on discussions between the two firms last year and signals deeper collaboration in wearable technology.

Earlier this year, Meta announced a partnership with Oakley, an EssilorLuxottica brand, to develop AI-powered smart glasses named “Oakley Meta HSTN.” These glasses feature a hands-free high-resolution camera, open-ear speakers, water resistance, and integrated Meta AI capabilities, marking an expansion beyond the successful Ray-Ban Meta glasses launched in 2023.

EssilorLuxottica CEO Francesco Milleri has expressed ambitions to increase smart glasses production capacity and extend partnerships with Meta across more brands, highlighting the growing intersection of eyewear and artificial intelligence.

Baidu Unveils AI Video Generator and Major Search Engine Upgrade

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China’s Baidu (9888.HK) on Wednesday launched MuseSteamer, an AI-powered video generator designed specifically for business users, alongside a significant upgrade to its search engine features. MuseSteamer can produce videos up to 10 seconds long and is offered in three versions: Turbo, Pro, and Lite.

Over the last year, AI leaders like OpenAI and global tech giants have expanded beyond chatbots into text-to-video and image-to-video generation. In China, competitors including ByteDance, Tencent (0700.HK), and Alibaba (9988.HK) have also released similar models. Unlike many rivals such as OpenAI’s Sora that target consumers with subscription plans, Baidu’s MuseSteamer is currently focused solely on business users, with no consumer app available yet.

The search engine overhaul features a redesigned search box supporting longer queries, voice and image searches, and displays more relevant content powered by Baidu’s AI technology.

Baidu faces rising competition as AI chatbots like ByteDance’s Doubao and Tencent’s Yuanbao gain popularity in the Chinese market.