Anthropic Cuts Windsurf’s Claude AI Access
Strategic Move Follows OpenAI Acquisition Rumors
Anthropic has revoked Windsurf’s direct access to its Claude AI models, with Chief Science Officer Jared Kaplan citing rumors of Windsurf’s potential $3 billion acquisition by OpenAI as a key factor. The decision affects access to Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude 3.7 Sonnet – two of the most sought-after AI models for coding applications.
Computing Resources at the Core
During a TechCrunch interview at TC Sessions: AI 2025, Kaplan explained that “it would be odd for us to be selling Claude to OpenAI” through Windsurf. The AI research company is currently facing computing constraints and prioritizing what Kaplan called “lasting partnerships” over potentially temporary collaborations.
Windsurf Forced to Adapt
The sudden access termination has forced Windsurf to:
- Seek alternative third-party computing providers
- Warn users about potential short-term instability
- Potentially accelerate integration with OpenAI’s infrastructure
Anthropic’s Future Focus
Kaplan revealed that Anthropic is:
- Expanding compute capacity through its Amazon partnership
- Developing autonomous coding agents like Claude Code
- Moving beyond traditional chatbot interfaces
The company continues supporting other AI coding tools like Cursor, which Kaplan views as complementary rather than competitive to Anthropic’s offerings.
Industry Implications
This development highlights the strategic realignments occurring in the AI development tools market as major players position themselves for long-term dominance. While neither OpenAI nor Windsurf have confirmed the acquisition rumors, the market response suggests significant changes may be underway for AI-powered development platforms.