The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can’t stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO)

This episode explores the future of software development and the role of AI in revolutionizing the coding process, featuring Michael Truell, co-founder and CEO of Anysphere, the company behind Cursor, an AI-powered code editor. Against the backdrop of Cursor's rapid growth, from zero to $300 million ARR in two years, the discussion delves into Truell's vision of a "post-code" world where software creation involves specifying intent rather than writing lines of code. More significantly, Truell highlights the counterintuitive need for custom model development within Cursor, despite initial assumptions about leveraging existing models. As the discussion pivoted to the skills needed in this evolving landscape, Truell emphasizes the growing importance of "taste" in both the logic and visual design of software. For instance, he suggests that future engineers will function more as logic designers, focusing on the "what" rather than the "how." In contrast to prevalent visions of chatbot-driven coding, Truell advocates for a human-centered approach where engineers retain control and leverage AI for speed and efficiency. This signifies a shift towards more human-readable and editable representations of software logic, ultimately impacting the future of software engineering roles and the competitive landscape of AI-powered development tools.