Artificial intelligence startup Cognition Labs has laid off 30 former Windsurf employees and offered buyouts to another 200, forcing the remaining staff to adopt an 80-hour work culture with six-day office weeks. The company’s CEO, Scott Wu, claims that work-life balance does not fit its mission-driven culture.
Windsurf, acquired by Cognition Labs just a month ago, initially praised the new team as “world-class.” However, the company is now enforcing strict policies, drawing comparisons to Elon Musk’s strategy at Twitter. Remaining employees will receive nine months of salary and can choose between committing to the demanding schedule or leaving with a payout.
The situation raises questions about Windsurf’s future under Cognition Labs’ leadership. The AI coding startup initially saw the acquisition as a strategic boost, but aggressive policies may indicate that Windsurf will be absorbed into a broader operation rather than remaining a standalone product.
Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/cognition-tells-windsurf-staff-to-take-buyout-or-join-80-hour-no-work-life-balance-culture-2766583-2025-08-05