Cursor co‑founder says OpenAI makes up just 5% of traffic and was trusted as neutral; Musk says he couldn't care less.
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| Source: Techmeme | Original article
Cursor co‑founder says OpenAI accounts for just 5% of its traffic and is trusted as neutral, while Elon Musk expresses indifference as OpenAI announces it will end its model‑supply contract.
OpenAI announced on Friday night that it will terminate its contract with code‑completion platform Cursor, giving the startup three months to replace the access it provides to OpenAI’s models. The move follows SpaceX’s recent $60 billion acquisition of Cursor, a development that has strained the relationship between the two companies.
Cursor co‑founder and CEO Michael Truell responded on X, saying the notice “is disappointing” but noting that OpenAI models power only about 5 % of Cursor’s user traffic. Truell added that Cursor had trusted OpenAI to remain “neutral” in the wake of the SpaceX takeover and that the two sides were still in dialogue to resolve the issue.
Elon Musk, whose companies now own Cursor, brushed off the dispute, stating he “couldn’t care less” about the termination. His comment underscores the broader tension between Musk’s growing AI portfolio and OpenAI’s strategic direction.
Why it matters: although the immediate technical impact on Cursor users may be limited given the modest share of traffic involved, the split highlights how corporate acquisitions can reshape AI supply chains. OpenAI’s decision signals a willingness to distance itself from entities it perceives as conflicting with its governance or competitive stance, a pattern that could affect other partnerships.
What to watch next: Cursor’s next steps in securing alternative large‑language‑model providers, the timeline for any negotiated settlement with OpenAI, and whether the termination prompts further scrutiny of AI collaborations involving Musk‑owned firms. The episode also dovetails with our earlier coverage of OpenAI ending its deal with Cursor after the SpaceX acquisition (see 29 August). Continued developments will reveal how resilient Cursor’s platform remains without direct OpenAI model access.
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