Michael Truell: How Cursor Builds at the Speed of AI

Michael Truell, CEO of Cursor, discusses the company's origins, pivoting from a 3D mechanical engineering focus to AI-powered coding tools. He emphasizes Cursor's early focus on delivering a superior product within the VS Code ecosystem, the challenges of scaling rapidly with a small team, and the strategic decisions around infrastructure, including multi-cloud approaches and managing API dependencies. Truell also shares insights into Cursor's rigorous talent acquisition process, which includes a unique two-day on-site project, and their approach to M&A as a means to acquire talent and build out a suite of complementary products, highlighting the acquisition of SuperMaven as a key example. Finally, he touches on the broader implications of AI in software development, acknowledging the long and complex journey toward full automation and the challenges of disrupting a field that Cursor itself relies on.