Cursor CEO Warns Against 'Vibe Coding' with AI

Michael Truell says skipping the details leads to software that eventually collapses.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 9:34am

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Cursor CEO Michael Truell draws a distinction between AI-assisted coding and 'vibe coding', where users rely on AI to build software without looking at the underlying code. Truell warns that 'vibe coding' leads to 'shaky foundations' that will 'crumble' as more features are added. In contrast, Cursor embeds AI directly into the coding environment to provide autocomplete, function generation, and debugging assistance while still allowing programmers to access the code details.

Why it matters

As generative AI becomes more prevalent in software development, there are concerns that some programmers may rely too heavily on AI without understanding the underlying code, leading to unstable and unreliable software. Truell's comments highlight the importance of maintaining a balance between AI assistance and hands-on coding expertise.

The details

Truell explains that 'vibe coding' refers to using AI to build software without looking at the code, likening it to 'putting up four walls and a roof without knowing what's going on under the floorboards or with the wiring.' In contrast, Cursor embeds AI directly into the coding environment, allowing programmers to leverage AI for tasks like autocomplete and function generation while still maintaining visibility and control over the code.

  • Cursor was created as a project by four MIT graduates in 2022.
  • Cursor received its first $8 million investment from OpenAI's Startup Fund in 2023.
  • Cursor later raised additional funding from venture capitalists, including a $2.3 billion round in 2025 that valued the company at $29.3 billion.
  • As of March 2026, Cursor was reportedly in the process of a funding round that would value the company at about $50 billion.

The players

Michael Truell

The CEO and co-founder of Cursor, a coding assistant that embeds AI directly into the coding environment.

Cursor

An AI-powered coding assistant that provides features like autocomplete, function generation, and debugging assistance while allowing programmers to maintain visibility and control over the underlying code.

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What they’re saying

“More and more, you can take a step back from the code, and you can ask an AI to go do end-to-end tasks for you.”

— Michael Truell, CEO and Co-founder, Cursor

“Vibe coding refers to a method of coding with AI where you kind of close your eyes and you don't look at the code at all and you just ask the AI to go build the thing for you.”

— Michael Truell, CEO and Co-founder, Cursor

“If you close your eyes and you don't look at the code and you have AIs build things with shaky foundations as you add another floor, and another floor, and another floor, and another floor, things start to kind of crumble.”

— Michael Truell, CEO and Co-founder, Cursor

What’s next

Cursor is reportedly in the process of a funding round that would value the company at about $50 billion, further solidifying its position as a leading AI-powered coding assistant.

The takeaway

As AI becomes more prevalent in software development, it is crucial to maintain a balance between AI assistance and hands-on coding expertise. Truell's warnings about 'vibe coding' highlight the importance of understanding the underlying code and not relying too heavily on AI to build software, which can lead to unstable and unreliable systems.