Scott Wu on AI, Devin, and Windsurf Acquisition | Generated by AI
Here’s what Scott Wu, CEO of Cognition, discussed with John Collison (co-founder of Stripe) in their recent conversation—published August 27, 2025 on the Cheeky Pint podcast, hosted by Collison:
Key Highlights from the Interview
** AI software engineer “Devin” and the “Moneyball-ification” of everything** Scott Wu describes how Cognition’s AI coding assistant, Devin, shapes how engineering is done—driving productivity and evolving toward a metrics-driven, “Moneyball-ified” approach. (Irish Podcasts, Podwise)
** Early background and math competitions** Wu shares anecdotes from his youth—competing alongside peers like Alexandr Wang in math contests during 6th grade—and his early experiences working at Addepar while still in high school. (Irish Podcasts, Podwise)
** Acquisition of Windsurf** A major focus: Cognition’s fast-moving acquisition of the AI tool startup Windsurf in July. Wu recounts a “sleepless weekend”—when OpenAI’s deal fell apart, Google reportedly swooped in to hire Windsurf’s CEO and license parts of its tech, prompting Cognition to move immediately. The goal was to preserve key talent and integrate infrastructure, marketing, and operations teams as swiftly as possible—within a few days—so they didn’t scatter elsewhere. (Business Insider, Irish Podcasts)
Wu noted that Windsurf brought complementary customer bases (e.g. JPMorgan), while Cognition had clients like Goldman Sachs—creating post-acquisition synergies. A major update called “Wave 11” was also rolled out shortly thereafter. (Business Insider)
** Broader implications: AI agent economy and AGI beliefs** They dig into wider themes: how agent-based AI systems are reshaping market structure and engineering workflows, and Wu’s assertion that “we already have AGI,” a provocative statement about current AI capabilities. (Irish Podcasts, Podwise)
Summary
Scott Wu’s chat with John Collison spanned a wide range—covering:
- The genesis and functionality of Cognition’s AI assistant, Devin.
- The “Moneyball-ification” of engineering through AI tools.
- His early story, math competitions, and early-career milestones.
- A rapid, strategic acquisition (Windsurf) in the AI startup landscape.
- His worldview on AI infrastructure, agent economies, and the provocative claim about AGI.
Let me know if you’d like more detail on any specific segment—happy to dig into transcripts or timelines further!