Anthropic co-founder on cutting access to Windsurf: ‘Selling Claude to OpenAI would be unusual’

Anthropic limits Windsurf's Claude access amid OpenAI rumors, focusing on sustainable partnerships.

: Jared Kaplan, Anthropic's co-founder, commented on the decision to cut Windsurf's access to the Claude AI models due to potential acquisition by OpenAI. Kaplan described such a potential transaction with OpenAI as unusual and emphasized prioritizing lasting partnerships despite computing constraints. Anthropic's strategy shift includes dedication to agentic coding products rather than chatbots, alongside expanding computing capacity using Amazon's new cluster. Anthropic focuses on collaborations with long-term partners like Cursor, enhancing model availability despite current constraints.

Jared Kaplan, the co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Anthropic, recently discussed the company's decision to limit Windsurf's direct access to Anthropic’s Claude AI models. This move was largely influenced by rumors and reports suggesting OpenAI, a major competitor of Anthropic, is acquiring Windsurf for $3 billion. Kaplan explained that Anthropic aims to support customers who will continue sustainable collaborations, implying the inappropriateness of aligning with OpenAI, their direct competitor.

Despite acknowledging limited computational resources, Kaplan stressed Anthropic's commitment to fostering lasting partnerships. In a recent interview with TechCrunch during their 'TC Sessions: AI 2025' event, Kaplan expressed surprise at the notion of selling Claude models to OpenAI by saying, 'I think it would be odd for us to be selling Claude to OpenAI.' By restricting access to high-demand AI models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude 3.7 Sonnet, Anthropic compels Windsurf to seek alternative computing solutions without prior notice, impacting its users temporarily.

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Kaplan acknowledges the company's computing constraints and plans to extend their resources with Amazon's new computing cluster, projected to scale significantly in the upcoming months. This expansion aims to increase the availability of Anthropic's models for users and developers, while aligning resource allocation with their strategic focus on agentic coding products, such as Claude Code. Kaplan indicated a long-term vision that moves beyond static AI chatbot experiences, favoring dynamic AI agents instead.

Windsurf expressing disappointment over Anthropic's severed access and deemed that it could lead to short-term instability for its users. However, Kaplan maintained that working with companies like Cursor, who build AI coding tools independently, represents the type of collaboration Anthropic envisions. As Anthropic navigates these industry dynamics, Kaplan regards AI coding agents as ultimately more beneficial compared to any limiting chatbot paradigm.

TechCrunch's article noted that neither Windsurf nor OpenAI confirmed or commented on the acquisition speculation. This focus on solidifying Anthropic's place in the AI field while handling competitive pressures highlights the company's dedication to strategic growth and technological innovations.

Sources: TechCrunch, Bloomberg

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