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Tech Deals & Departures: Savings, Streamers, and a Startup Shakeup!

Here's a news article synthesizing the provided information:

AI Chatbots Tap Elon Musk's Grokipedia as Source; a16z Partner Departs After Program Pause

Several AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, have begun citing Elon Musk's Grokipedia as a source for their answers, raising questions about the provenance of AI-generated information, according to a report by The Verge on January 31, 2026. The trend indicates a growing reliance on Musk's AI-generated encyclopedia across various platforms, including Microsoft's AI offerings and Perplexity.

Meanwhile, in the venture capital world, Kofi Ampadu, the partner at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) who spearheaded the Talent x Opportunity (TxO) fund and program, left the firm, TechCrunch reported on January 31, 2026. Ampadu's departure followed the firm's decision to pause the TxO program and lay off a majority of its staff in November 2025.

Ampadu, who led the TxO program for over four years after taking over for initial leader Na, expressed gratitude for his time at a16z. "During my time at the firm, I was deeply grateful for the opportunity and the trust to lead this work," Ampadu wrote in an email to staff, obtained by TechCrunch. He highlighted the program's mission of identifying and supporting "out-of-network entrepreneurs" as a particularly meaningful experience.

In other tech news, The Verge also highlighted deals on gadgets, including the AirPods 4 and Google's 4K streamer.

Separately, TechCrunch reported on HomeBoost, an app developed by Selina Tobaccowala, former president and CTO of SurveyMonkey. Inspired by her daughter's efforts to conserve energy at home, Tobaccowala launched HomeBoost to help users identify ways to save on utility bills. Tobaccowala, who previously sold her startup Gixo to OpenFit, said she surveyed "a ton" of customers to understand their struggles with lowering energy consumption.

Also, a review in The Verge discussed the new game Cassette Boy, noting its inspiration from classic games like the Legend of Zelda.

AI-Assisted Journalism

This article was generated with AI assistance, synthesizing reporting from multiple credible news sources. Our editorial team reviews AI-generated content for accuracy.

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