How Shivon Zilis Operated as Elon Musk’s OpenAI Insider
Shivon Zilis, a longtime associate of Elon Musk and mother of four of his children, played a key behind-the-scenes role at OpenAI while also working for Musk’s companies, including Tesla and Neuralink. Court testimony and messages revealed she acted as a communication conduit between Musk and OpenAI leadership during and after her tenure on the nonprofit’s board. Her dual roles and communications have become central to the Musk v. Altman lawsuit, with evidence suggesting she helped Musk stay informed and influence OpenAI’s direction after his departure.
- ▪Shivon Zilis joined OpenAI as an advisor in 2016 and served on its nonprofit board from 2020 to 2023.
- ▪Text messages show Zilis asked Musk whether she should remain close to OpenAI for information, and he instructed her to stay 'close and friendly' while recruiting talent to Tesla.
- ▪Zilis informed Musk about OpenAI’s internal discussions, fundraising, and projects, even as she shifted her focus to Neuralink and Tesla.
- ▪Emails reveal Zilis relayed concerns from OpenAI cofounders about Musk seeking control and summarized their resistance to unilateral power over AGI development.
- ▪OpenAI’s lawyers argue Zilis functioned as a covert liaison between Musk and OpenAI, providing him strategic insights after his 2018 board departure.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Maxwell ZeffParesh DaveBusinessApr 30, 2026 8:51 PMHow Shivon Zilis Operated as Elon Musk’s OpenAI InsiderMessages presented at trial reveal how Zilis, the mother of four of Musk's children, acted as an intermediary between him and OpenAI.Photo-Illustration: WIRED Staff; Getty ImagesCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyAs the first week of trial in Musk v. Altman comes to a close, one person has emerged as a critical behind-the-scenes manager of communications and egos in OpenAI’s early years: Shivon Zilis.A longtime employee of Musk and the mother to four of his children, Zilis first joined OpenAI as an advisor in 2016.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at WIRED.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from WIRED
