Problem

Codeium, a startup building intelligent AI tools for software development, came to Lexicon with a new AI product with unique benefits – one that combines the collaboration of a “copilot” with the autonomy of an “agent”, coupled with deep codebase understanding, access to powerful tools, and real-time access to human actions.

AI development tools often force developers to choose between collaboration and autonomy. While copilots assist with short-term tasks, they lack the depth needed for larger-scale challenges. Conversely, agents can operate independently but lose the vital human input developers value. Lexicon’s own research on AI confirms that developers seek AI experiences that are intuitive yet powerful, fostering creativity and a sense of collaboration. However, few tools in the market have successfully blended these qualities.

According to David Placek, Lexicon’s founder, “The product was so impressive and so effortless that we knew it had to be more athletic and more natural than other AI synthetic-like brands.”

Solution

Lexicon created Windsurf, a name that captures the synergy of human skill and technological power. Like the sport, Windsurf conveys energy, precision, and flow—a seamless balance between effort and assistance. The name also evokes key attributes that Lexicon’s AI research found developers value most– simplicity, creativity, and collaboration. By making complex tasks feel intuitive and effortless, Windsurf positions itself as more than a tool. It becomes an extension of the developer’s creativity, control, and ingenuity, delivering the “flow state” developers crave in their AI experiences where developers and AI operate as a unified entity.

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