Michael Truell’s journey from self-taught programmer to co-founder of Cursor highlights his passion for AI-assisted coding, leading to the creation of an advanced AI-powered code editor that aims to transform software development. He emphasizes the importance of deep learning, collaboration, and foundational skills for aspiring engineers navigating the evolving landscape of AI-driven programming.
Michael Truell’s journey into programming began in middle school, sparked by a desire to create a mobile game with his brother. Despite initial challenges with complex programming languages like Objective C, he persevered, teaching himself through books and early projects. Alongside this, he developed an early interest in AI, collaborating on projects such as building robots that could learn through positive and negative feedback, akin to training a dog. This hands-on experience with reinforcement learning and neural networks, despite limited resources and knowledge at the time, laid a strong foundation for his future endeavors.
After graduating from MIT in 2022, Michael and his co-founders initially pursued various AI projects, including a co-pilot for mechanical engineers working with CAD software and an end-to-end encrypted messaging system. These early ventures, while technically impressive, struggled to gain traction and users. The team realized that their true passion and opportunity lay in transforming the coding experience itself through AI, inspired by products like GitHub Copilot but believing the potential for change was far greater than what was currently being pursued.
Pivoting to focus on AI-assisted coding, the team built their own code editor from scratch, integrating AI features that evolved rapidly through user feedback and iteration. They learned that building a fully-featured code editor was a massive undertaking, leading them to base their product on VS Code eventually. Alongside product development, they also trained their own AI models to improve performance and user experience, recognizing the importance of proprietary technology in scaling their solution.
Throughout 2023, Cursor’s growth was steady but slow, with the team navigating the challenges of product-market fit and user segmentation. They resisted narrowing their focus to specific tech stacks or user groups, instead aiming to build a broadly useful AI coding assistant. Growth accelerated significantly in 2024, fueled by continuous product improvements, word-of-mouth, and social media evangelism, particularly within influential tech communities like Y Combinator. Despite rapid user adoption, the company remained relatively small, emphasizing focused hiring and product development.
Looking ahead, Michael envisions a future where AI fundamentally transforms software development, making coding more automated and collaborative with AI as a colleague. He advises aspiring engineers to focus on learning deeply, working on projects they are passionate about, and collaborating with people they respect. While AI will change many aspects of programming, foundational skills like math and computer science remain valuable, serving as a strong base for adapting to the evolving landscape of technology and AI-driven development.