Anthropic Co-Founder: Why We Won’t Sell Claude to OpenAI
▼ Summary
– Anthropic cut Windsurf’s direct access to Claude AI models due to rumors of OpenAI acquiring Windsurf, aiming to focus on long-term customers.
– Kaplan stated it would be unusual for Anthropic to sell Claude to OpenAI, referencing recent reports of a potential $3 billion acquisition.
– Windsurf expressed disappointment over losing access to Claude models, which may cause short-term instability for its users.
– Anthropic cited computing constraints as a reason for the decision, prioritizing resources for lasting partnerships like Cursor.
– Kaplan emphasized Anthropic’s shift toward agentic coding products like Claude Code, moving away from static AI chatbot experiences.
Anthropic has made it clear that selling its Claude AI models to OpenAI is off the table, according to co-founder Jared Kaplan. The decision comes amid swirling rumors about OpenAI’s potential acquisition of coding assistant startup Windsurf—a move that reportedly led Anthropic to revoke Windsurf’s direct access to Claude’s latest models.
During a recent TechCrunch interview, Kaplan emphasized that Anthropic is prioritizing long-term partnerships over short-term deals, particularly with customers committed to sustainable collaboration. “It wouldn’t make sense for us to supply Claude to OpenAI,” he stated, addressing speculation head-on. The remarks follow reports of a possible $3 billion acquisition by OpenAI, though neither company has confirmed the talks.
Windsurf confirmed the loss of access to Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude 3.7 Sonnet, two of Anthropic’s most advanced coding models, forcing the startup to scramble for alternative computing providers. The abrupt change could disrupt users relying on Windsurf’s platform, though Kaplan cited compute constraints as a key factor in the decision. With limited resources, Anthropic aims to allocate capacity to partners it views as strategically aligned for the future.
Despite these challenges, Kaplan hinted at upcoming expansions in model availability, thanks to a new Amazon-powered computing cluster that’s scaling rapidly. This infrastructure boost could open doors for broader access in the coming months, easing current limitations.
While stepping back from Windsurf, Anthropic is deepening ties with other AI coding tool developers, such as Cursor. Kaplan dismissed the notion of competition with these partners, even as they build their own models. Instead, Anthropic is doubling down on agentic coding products like Claude Code, moving beyond traditional chatbot interfaces. Kaplan argued that AI agents—dynamic and proactive—will ultimately deliver more value than static conversational models, setting Anthropic apart in a crowded market dominated by OpenAI, Google, and Meta.
The shift reflects a broader strategy to focus on durable, high-impact collaborations while advancing Claude’s capabilities in specialized domains. As the AI landscape evolves, Anthropic’s decisions underscore its commitment to shaping the future of coding assistance—on its own terms.
(Source: TechCrunch)
