OpenAI Cuts Cursor Off from its Models Now That Musk’s SpaceX (SPCX) Owns It

OpenAI Cuts Cursor Off from its Models Now That Musk’s SpaceX (SPCX) Owns It

Fatima Gulzar

Mon, September 7, 2026 at 1:35 AM GMT+3 4 min read

• SPCX -1.20%

CNBC reported that OpenAI said it will end model access through Cursor on November 12, following Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) $60 billion all-stock acquisition of Cursor's parent company, Anysphere, which closed on August 14.

OpenAI said it "cannot be confident that SpaceX will use our technology within our terms of service, based on our experience with Elon Musk's companies violating contracts," pointing to disputes involving X and xAI, including Musk's own courtroom admission that xAI had trained on OpenAI's output. Cursor CEO Michael Truell said on X that OpenAI models handle about 5% of Cursor's user traffic and that the two companies are discussing the decision.

Musk responded on X, calling OpenAI's leadership "utterly untrustworthy." Anthropic co-founder Tom Brown said his company will instead increase compute to support Claude in Cursor.

Bull Case

The actual business disruption looks limited based on the numbers involved. Cursor's own CEO said OpenAI models account for only about 5% of user traffic. It means the vast majority of Cursor's usage already runs on other model providers, limiting how much this cutoff changes the product most users experience.

Cursor can reduce its dependence on OpenAI as Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) expands its AI ecosystem. Losing access to OpenAI models could push Cursor to deepen its relationships with Anthropic and other providers, while SpaceX can use its growing AI infrastructure to support the coding platform. That diversification could give Cursor more control over its model supply and reduce its exposure to decisions made by a direct competitor.

A rival model provider is stepping in rather than stepping back. Anthropic's Tom Brown said the company will continue to increase compute to support Claude models in Cursor. It shows Cursor retains a strong alternative partner willing to expand its role precisely as OpenAI pulls back.

OpenAI structured the wind-down to minimize near-term disruption. The firm said it gave the maximum notice provided by our contract before the November 12 cutoff, a roughly two-and-a-half-month runway that gives Cursor time to manage the transition rather than facing an abrupt cutoff.

Bear Case

OpenAI's decision creates a reputational and commercial overhang for SpaceX. OpenAI noted its experience with Musk's companies violating contracts as a reason for cutting ties, which could make other AI labs and technology partners more cautious about expanding commercial relationships with SpaceX. If other technology providers become concerned about similar disputes, SpaceX could face more difficulty securing partnerships or technology agreements that support its increasingly AI-driven operations.

This dispute sits on top of a genuinely acrimonious, ongoing conflict, not an isolated disagreement. Musk sued OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Greg Brockman in 2024. The public sniping around this decision, including Musk's own X post, suggests the relationship between Musk's companies and OpenAI remains a live source of friction that could resurface again.

Even a modest 5% traffic share represents real, specific users Cursor now risks losing. Developers whose workflows depend on OpenAI-specific prompts or evaluations may switch to a rival coding tool that retains OpenAI access rather than adapt to Cursor's remaining model options, a narrow but real competitive risk.

Musk's own courtroom admission that xAI trained on OpenAI's output adds a legal and reputational overhang to the broader relationship between Musk's companies and OpenAI. That disclosure could invite further scrutiny of how Musk-linked AI businesses acquire or use technology, potentially increasing legal and regulatory risks across the broader ecosystem surrounding Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX).

Hedge Fund Data

Insider Monkey's database shows Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) was held by 119 hedge funds in the second quarter of 2026, its first quarter of data following its June IPO.

Conclusion

The financial stakes of this specific cutoff may be modest, since OpenAI represents a small slice of Cursor's traffic, but the dispute highlights broader risks for SpaceX. Musk's increasingly interconnected technology businesses can expose SpaceX to reputational, legal, and partnership risks that extend beyond any single commercial relationship. For investors, the key question is whether these disputes remain isolated or begin to create obstacles for SpaceX as it expands its technology and AI goals.

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