Cursor is an AI-powered code editor developed by Anysphere, a startup founded in 2022 by Michael Truell, Sualeh Asif, Arvid Lunnemark, and Aman Sanger. The product is built as a fork of Visual Studio Code, augmented with deep AI capabilities for code generation, editing, and understanding across large codebases.
Cursor integrates large language models from leading providers to power features such as multi-file edits, an autonomous agent mode, codebase-aware chat, tab autocomplete, and natural-language refactoring. It indexes a project's code to give the AI broad context, allowing developers to make sweeping changes and ask questions about unfamiliar repositories.
Anysphere has raised large venture rounds from prominent investors, reaching a multi-billion-dollar valuation as Cursor became one of the fastest-growing developer tools and reported rapid revenue growth driven by individual developers and engineering teams.
Cursor competes with GitHub Copilot, Windsurf, and other AI coding assistants. Its differentiators include a polished agentic workflow, strong codebase context handling, and a familiar VS Code-based experience that lowers switching costs for developers.
For software teams and individual developers who want an AI-native editor with strong agentic capabilities, Cursor is a leading choice, though it relies on third-party models and a subscription that can add up at scale.