July was a tumultuous month for everyone involved with AI programming software technology company Windsurf. Not only did Google license the technology for its own development, but it also hired the company’s CEO, Varun Mohan, to join their team.
Shortly after, Cognition, another AI programming technology company, bought Windsurf for an undisclosed sum, but in short, they now own not only all of Windsurf’s technology, the employees that Google didn’t hire, and Windsurf’s existing customers.
Recently, it was reported that Cognition has offered Windsurf employees a severance package with nine months of pay, or stay with Cognition but be forced to work 80 hours per week, which is 13 hours per day, six days per week.
More interestingly, Scott Wu, Windsurf's CEO, personally sent notices to Windsurf employees regarding the severance package, saying that he does not believe in the concept of "work-life balance", and that if Windsurf employees still want to stay at Cognition, that's what they have to deal with. They have been given until August 10, 2025 to accept the severance package, or sign a new employment contract.