Prime Highlights
- Cursor admitted its Composer 2 AI model was partially built on Moonshot AI’s Kimi model after user speculation online.
- The company acknowledged it failed to disclose this earlier and promised greater transparency in future updates.
Key Facts
- Cursor stated that only about 25% of the compute came from the base model, with the remaining work developed through its own training and enhancements.
- Moonshot AI confirmed that Cursor’s use of the Kimi model was part of an authorized commercial partnership supporting open AI collaboration.
Background
Cursor has admitted that its newly launched AI coding model, Composer 2, was built using a base from Moonshot AI’s Kimi model. The company made the clarification after users online raised questions about the model’s origin.
Composer 2 was introduced earlier this week and was described as offering advanced coding capabilities. However, an X user claimed that the model appeared to be based on Kimi 2.5, an open-source AI model developed by Moonshot AI. The user pointed to code details that suggested a connection.
Soon after, Cursor confirmed that the model did start from an open-source base. A company executive said that only about a quarter of the computing work came from the base model, while the rest was developed through Cursor’s own training and improvements. The company added that the final model performs differently from the original Kimi system.
Moonshot AI also responded, saying Cursor used its model through an authorized commercial partnership. It said it supports such collaborations as part of the open AI ecosystem.
Cursor’s decision not to mention Kimi in its initial announcement raised questions. The company later admitted this was a mistake and said it would be more open in future updates.
The issue comes at a time when global competition in AI is increasing, especially between the United States and China. Building on a Chinese model may have added to the sensitivity around the announcement.
Cursor, a fast-growing startup with strong funding and revenue growth, said it will improve transparency going forward while continuing to develop its AI tools.
