Amazon's AI coding assistant Q lags rivals in revenue, internal data shows (www.businessinsider.com)

Amazon’s AI coding assistant, Q Developer, generated an estimated $16.3 million in projected annual recurring revenue a year after launch, according to internal documents reviewed by Business Insider — a figure that trails several fast-growing rivals. Competitors such as Anysphere’s Cursor have reached roughly $500 million ARR, while Windsurf, Gamma and Higgsfield have reported tens of millions within months of launch. Amazon says daily usage of Q Developer has increased ninefold per person and lists enterprise customers (ADP, Deloitte, Japan Research Institute), but internal feedback and Slack messages show employees favor external tools like Cursor for speed and responsiveness. The gap has prompted Amazon to rethink Q branding and product strategy: Q is positioned as a suite (Q Developer for coding; Q Business for enterprise chat) and Q Business is being revamped into a “Quick Suite.” The story matters because it highlights AWS losing ground in the AI developer-tools arms race, despite claims of internal efficiency gains from Q. For the AI/ML community this signals intense commercial momentum for specialized coding agents, heightened emphasis on UX and latency (employees report Cursor makes near-instant changes versus Q’s minutes), and potential consolidation or rebranding moves as incumbents scramble to match startups’ rapid ARR growth.