Will Cursor keep OpenAI and Anthropic models after SpaceX deal?

Key Takeaways

• Cursor plans to continue offering Anthropic and OpenAI models after SpaceX finalizes its $60B acquisition
• Anthropic recently signed a multi-billion dollar compute deal with SpaceX, suggesting willingness to work with Musk
• OpenAI's startup fund holds equity in Cursor and stands to gain SpaceX stock from the deal

SpaceX agreed to acquire Cursor, the AI coding startup, for $60 billion. The deal hands Elon Musk one of the most popular developer tools on the market. But it also creates an awkward question: will OpenAI and Anthropic keep supplying their models to a product owned by a direct competitor?

According to people close to Cursor, the company plans to keep operating as a platform after the acquisition closes later this year. That means continuing to offer models from Anthropic, OpenAI, and other labs alongside Cursor's own in-house models. Whether the AI labs will cooperate is another matter.

Why model choice matters to Cursor's business

Third-party AI models have been central to Cursor's value proposition since the company launched. The coding assistant lets users pick whichever model performs best for their task, whether that's Claude for long-context reasoning or GPT-4 for specific coding patterns. This flexibility kept Cursor ahead of IDE competitors locked into single vendors.

Both Anthropic and OpenAI count Cursor among their largest customers. They feature the startup in marketing materials. The relationship was symbiotic: Cursor distributed their models to developers, and the AI labs got distribution and revenue.

That relationship grew complicated before the SpaceX deal. OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude Code now compete directly with Cursor. The acquisition will intensify that rivalry.

Historical precedent isn't encouraging

AI labs have not been generous when competitors buy their distribution partners. When news broke last year that OpenAI was in talks to acquire Windsurf, another AI coding startup, Anthropic moved quickly to cut off access. Anthropic cofounder Jared Kaplan said at the time that it "would be odd to sell Claude to OpenAI."

That deal fell apart. But Anthropic's reaction suggests the company draws hard lines when acquisitions put its models inside a competitor's walls.

SpaceX's deal with Cursor creates the same dynamic. Once the acquisition closes, OpenAI and Anthropic will need to do business with Musk if they want to reach Cursor's user base. Musk has clashed publicly with both Sam Altman and Dario Amodei. Personal animosity could override commercial logic.

Why the outcome might be different this time

Eno Reyes, cofounder and CTO of Factory, a competing AI coding startup, says the decision isn't obvious. "I don't know if the decision is as black and white," Reyes said. "It's actually super unclear to us."

Two factors suggest the AI labs might continue supplying Cursor despite SpaceX ownership.

First, Anthropic recently signed a multi-billion dollar deal to buy computing resources from SpaceX. That partnership indicates Amodei and Musk can work together when it serves their interests. Both companies share a common rival in OpenAI. The compute deal may give Anthropic reason enough to keep Claude in Cursor.

Second, OpenAI's startup fund invested in Cursor's seed and Series A rounds. That fund is set to receive SpaceX stock when the acquisition closes. OpenAI says the company itself isn't directly an investor in the fund, which Sam Altman originally set up. But the financial connection creates at least some alignment.

Regulatory approval still pending

The deal hasn't closed. SpaceX's SEC filings note the acquisition remains subject to "requisite regulatory approvals." Until then, neither SpaceX nor Cursor can say much about post-acquisition operations.

What's clear is that SpaceX will get Cursor's assets, customer contracts, and intellectual property. The question is whether that portfolio will still include access to the AI models that made Cursor valuable in the first place.

The bigger question for AI tool builders

Whether Cursor remains model-agnostic matters beyond this one deal. The AI coding market is consolidating. OpenAI explored acquiring Cursor before SpaceX did. Anthropic and OpenAI are both building their own coding products.

If the big labs refuse to supply models to tools owned by competitors, the era of model-agnostic developer products may be ending. Startups building on third-party models would need to develop their own, or accept being locked out when the market shifts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is SpaceX paying for Cursor?

SpaceX agreed to acquire Cursor for $60 billion, according to SEC filings. The deal is pending regulatory approval.

Will Cursor still offer Claude and GPT models after the acquisition?

Cursor plans to continue operating as a model-agnostic platform, offering Anthropic and OpenAI models alongside its own. Whether those labs will continue supplying models to a SpaceX-owned product remains uncertain.

Why might Anthropic keep supplying models to Cursor?

Anthropic recently signed a multi-billion dollar compute deal with SpaceX, suggesting the companies can work together despite competitive tensions.

Does OpenAI have a financial stake in Cursor?

OpenAI's startup fund invested in Cursor's seed and Series A rounds. The fund will receive SpaceX stock when the acquisition closes. OpenAI says the company itself is not directly an investor in the fund.

When will the SpaceX Cursor acquisition close?

The deal is expected to close later this year, pending regulatory approvals.

Source: Feed: Artificial Intelligence Latest / Maxwell Zeff