TechCrunch Startup News Windsurf says Anthropic is limiting its direct access to Claude AI models
Jun 6, 2025
Windsurf is facing hurdles after Anthropic reduced its first-party access to their popular AI models. The CEO expresses concerns about the unexpected limitations and the impact on their coding tools. As competition heats up in the AI-assisted coding space, Windsurf is now on the lookout for new compute providers to adapt and thrive. It's a gripping tale of innovation, adaptation, and the challenges of navigating partnerships in the fast-paced tech landscape.
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Anthropic Restricts Windsurf's AI Access
- Anthropic has limited Windsurf's direct access to its latest Claude AI models, impacting the startup's ability to serve users effectively.
- This restriction may hinder Windsurf's competitive growth against rivals with better AI model access.
Developer Switches to Cursor for Access
- Ronald Manak, a Swift-specialized startup founder, switched from Windsurf to Cursor for better access to Claude 4 models.
- He values the enhanced capabilities Claude 4 offers for his programming needs.
Support Multiple AI Models
- Vibecoding startups should support multiple AI models from leading developers to stay competitive.
- Embrace model optionality due to rapidly evolving and outperforming coding AI releases.