Shivon Zilis Acted as Elon Musk's OpenAI Liaison
Trial evidence in the Musk v. Altman case points to Shivon Zilis as a central figure in managing talks and tensions during OpenAI's initial phase. Zilis, a long-time Musk associate and parent to four of his kids, started as an OpenAI advisor in 2016. She held a director spot on its nonprofit board from 2020 to 2023. She also took executive roles at Musk's firms Neuralink and Tesla.
OpenAI began in 2015 as a nonprofit lab aimed at safe artificial general intelligence development. Musk helped found it alongside Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and Ilya Sutskever. Conflicts grew as the group eyed a for-profit shift to attract funds. Musk quit the board in February 2018 over time demands from Tesla.
Zilis's Ties to Musk and OpenAI
During testimony, Musk described Zilis in varied terms. He named her a chief of staff at one moment, a close advisor next, and noted they share a home while she raises four of his children. Zilis's deposition clarified Musk visits often but keeps his own place. In September last year, she informed OpenAI lawyers their romance started around 2016, post her informal OpenAI advising role. Their first two children arrived in 2021.
OpenAI attorneys argue Zilis mainly served as a secret bridge to Musk in this suit, long after his 2018 exit. On February 16, 2018, days before OpenAI revealed Musk's board departure, Zilis texted him: "Do you prefer I stay close and friendly to OpenAI to keep info flowing or begin to disassociate? Trust game is about to get tricky so any guidance for how to do right by you is appreciated." Musk replied, "Close and friendly, but we are going to actively try to move three or four people from OpenAI to Tesla. More than that will join over time, but we won't actively recruit them." Musk later said on the stand he just sought updates on events.
In that thread, Musk added, "there is little chance of OpenAI being a serious force if I focus on Tesla AI." Zilis replied: "There is very low probability of a good future if someone doesn't slow Demis down," naming Google DeepMind's leader, whom Musk distrusts on superintelligent AI control. She continued, "You don't realize how much you have an ability to influence him directly or otherwise slow him down. I think you know I'm not a malicious person but in this case it feels fundamentally irresponsible to not find a way to slow or alter his path."
Updates and Negotiations in 2017-2018
Two months on, Zilis emailed Musk on April 23, 2018, about OpenAI's fundraising and a video game-playing AI project. She noted shifting most time to Neuralink and Tesla but offered, "if you'd prefer I pull more hours back to OpenAI oversight please let me know."
Back in summer 2017, OpenAI cofounders discussed structure changes. Musk sought initial control. On August 28, 2017, Zilis emailed Musk after meeting Brockman and Sutskever on equity splits. She noted their view no single person should hold unilateral AGI power. Musk shot back, "This is very annoying. Please encourage them to go start a company. I've had enough."
Talks dragged into fall. Zilis stayed trusted by both camps. A September 20, 2017, email from Sutskever to Altman and Musk voicing control worries copied Zilis. Two days later, she updated Musk on chats with Altman, Brockman, and Sutskever stressing nonprofit commitment. She also managed tasks like security guard bids for the OpenAI-Neuralink shared office.
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Post-Departure Role and Recent Advice
After Musk's February 2018 board exit, Zilis kept linking him to OpenAI heads for years. Musk testified Wednesday she shared no unauthorized sensitive OpenAI info.
Zilis advised Altman on Musk dealings too. On October 23, 2022, after Musk's upset text over OpenAI's $20 billion Microsoft funding round, Altman shared the screenshot with Zilis. She counseled, "Call if you'd like additional context, but overall recommendation is don't text back immediately."
On February 9, 2023, post-Musk's Twitter buy, Altman asked Zilis, "good idea for me to tweet something nice about Elon?" Days later, Altman posted on X: "society underestimates how much it owes elon for raising the collective ambition level at a time when optimism for the future was receding."
Zilis, 40, kicked off at IBM on cognitive computing, co-founded Bloomberg Beta VC arm, played Yale hockey, and hit Forbes 30 Under 30 in venture capital for 2015, pre-OpenAI advising.
Trial Focus on Musk's Claims
Thursday marked Musk's probable final stand. He urged jurors five times on Altman and others allegedly robbing him, repeating "you just can't steal a charity." Yet Musk set no restructuring blocks on his $38 million OpenAI donations. He delayed suing despite early for-profit shift worries.
Musk said OpenAI mission drift from social good AI worsened, boiling over in 2023: "Only recently has it been obvious that the charity had been stolen." OpenAI lawyers probed why concerns peaked as Musk launched for-profit xAI in 2023. Musk admitted xAI's setup carries societal safety risks.
Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers questioned timing pre-jury, telling Musk's team: "It is also ironic that your client, despite these risks, is creating a company that is in the exact space. So I suspect that there are plenty of people who don't want to put the future of humanity in Mr. Musk's hands."
Executives logged heavy court time first week: Musk 20 hours amid his 80-100 workweek, Altman 14, Brockman 16. Brockman testifies Monday.