Ali Yahya says he has decided to leave Andreessen Horowitz’s (a16z) crypto team, move to San Francisco and pursue an early-stage venture in open software shaped by his views on AI.
Yahya sees possible roles for AI in operating systems and an AI-native developer ecosystem. He described the project as nascent, with a focus on infrastructure for open software ecosystems.
His outlook reflects two expected shifts. Yahya thinks groups may coordinate several AI agents, broadening AI use beyond individual users. He also said cheaper software development could make applications tailored to narrow tasks practical, even if they are used only once.
Yahya said he joined a16z’s crypto business in 2017 after conducting robotics research at Google Brain. He had an interest in open-source software but little investing experience, he said. He described building the team and supporting founders as among his most meaningful work.
He invited people exploring related ideas, particularly in the Bay Area, to get in touch.
