Former OpenAI board member Shivon Zilis testifies Elon Musk offered Sam Altman a Tesla board seat
During proceedings where the Tesla CEO sues OpenAI for unjust enrichment, Zilis states the offer was made to bring the non-profit under Tesla's umbrella.
Shivon Zilis, a former board member of OpenAI and the mother of Elon Musk's four children, has provided testimony at the company's trial in Oakland. In her evidence, Zilis stated that Musk offered Sam Altman a seat on the Tesla board. This proposal, according to the witness, was an attempt to bring the AI startup under the umbrella of his electric vehicle company.
The testimony emerged during high-stakes legal proceedings in which Musk is suing OpenAI for unjust enrichment. Zilis's account highlights a specific moment in the history of the two tech giants, suggesting that Musk sought to leverage his position to consolidate control over the artificial intelligence sector. The offer to Altman represents a significant pivot in strategy, moving away from a non-profit model toward a corporate structure within Tesla.
Historical records and prior disclosures from late 2017 and early 2018 provide context for this testimony. During that period, Musk was actively exploring the creation of his own AI laboratory within Tesla. Evidence presented at the trial indicates that he had lost confidence in OpenAI's ability to build artificial general intelligence and was simultaneously attempting to recruit the founding team to lead a new unit inside his EV firm.
The dynamic between the witnesses and the subject of the trial carries inherent complexity. Zilis, given her close personal relationship with Musk and her former role advising the organisation, offers a perspective that carries both weight and scrutiny. Her statement that Musk wanted the AI startup to join his EV company is derived directly from her recollection of the board seat offer, which implies a level of integration that may not have been explicitly detailed in the original proposal.
The trial proceedings continue to uncover the intricate web of negotiations and strategic shifts that have defined the relationship between the two entities. While the specific terms and conditions of the board seat offer remain unverified in the current source material, the testimony underscores the aggressive nature of Musk's earlier attempts to steer the trajectory of OpenAI.
As the legal battle unfolds, this new evidence adds another layer to the narrative of competition and collaboration in the technology sector. The implications of bringing a major AI player under the Tesla banner would have been profound, potentially altering the governance and strategic direction of the organisation. The outcome of the trial will likely determine the final shape of this corporate history.
