Names, versions and owners change fast. Checked October 2026.
In plain words
Cursor is an app for writing software, not an AI model. Programmers use a code editor the way writers use a word processor, and Cursor is one with AI woven through it. It looks and works much like VS Code, a popular free editor, and runs many of the same add-ons.
Instead of typing every line, you can ask in plain words: "add a login page" or "why does this crash?" The AI reads the files in your project, proposes changes, and shows you exactly what it wants to edit before you accept. It can also suggest the next few lines as you type.
This way of building software by describing it is often called vibe coding. The thinking is done by large language models: Cursor lets you choose models from several AI companies and also trains its own. It was created by Anysphere, a company started in 2022 by four MIT students.
Everyday example
A contractor who reads the plans
Renovating a flat, you could lay every tile yourself. Or you could hire a contractor, point at the kitchen and say: "move the sink under the window". They study the plans, mark exactly which pipes and tiles change, and wait for your nod before starting. Cursor is that contractor for code: you describe the change, it shows the edits, you approve.
Where the example breaks: A good contractor knows building codes. The AI can produce code that looks right but has bugs or security holes, so someone still needs to review and test it.
Latestas of October 2026
- Owned by
- SpaceX, which completed its purchase of Anysphere on 14 August 2026; Cursor continues as its own product
- Models
- Its own Composer models (Composer 2.5, May 2026), Grok 4.7 trained jointly with SpaceXAI (September 2026), and models from other labs
- Newest features
- Projects (September 2026) and an Agent SDK for developers (20 October 2026)
These details change often. The rest of this page explains what it is, which stays true.
How it actually works
Underneath, Cursor combines an ordinary editor with a few AI pieces.
It indexes your project
Cursor turns your code files into embeddings so it can quickly find the parts relevant to a question. This is a form of retrieval-augmented generation: look up the right files, then write.
A model writes the change
Your request and the relevant code go into a language model's context window. The model replies with edits, which Cursor shows as a before and after comparison you can accept or reject.
Its own models
Cursor trains coding models of its own, called Composer, alongside offering models from other labs. Composer 2 and 2.5 were built on top of an open-weight base model from another company, Moonshot AI's Kimi.
- What it is
- An AI code editor app you install on your computer, plus web and phone access to its agents
- Made by
- Anysphere, Inc., San Francisco, which does business as Cursor
- Founded
- 2022, by Michael Truell, Sualeh Asif, Arvid Lunnemark and Aman Sanger
- Own models
- Composer, first released 29 October 2025 with Cursor 2.0
Similar tools include GitHub Copilot, and coding agents that run in a terminal. They differ more in workflow than in the basic idea.
Questions people ask
Who makes Cursor?
A company called Anysphere, which does business as Cursor and is based in San Francisco. Four MIT students, Michael Truell, Sualeh Asif, Arvid Lunnemark and Aman Sanger, started it in 2022. Its ownership has since changed; the box above has the current owner.
Is Cursor the same as VS Code?
No. Cursor is a separate app from a different company, but it looks and works much like Microsoft's VS Code, shares its default keyboard shortcuts and runs many of the same extensions. The main difference is the AI built into every part of it.
Do I need to know how to code to use Cursor?
Not to start. Beginners use it to build small apps by describing them. But understanding code helps a lot: you need to judge whether the AI's changes are correct and safe, and fix things when it gets stuck.
Which AI model does Cursor use?
Several. You can pick models from different AI companies inside the app, and Cursor also trains its own coding models. Which ones are offered changes often; see the box above for the current picture.