Zilis Testifies: Musk Once Proposed OpenAI Merge into Tesla

Q: What are the key facts in this article?

In the lawsuit between Elon Musk and OpenAI, Shivon Zilis testified that Musk had proposed to make OpenAI a subsidiary of Tesla, but the proposal was rejected by OpenAI executives. This lawsuit could significantly impact OpenAI's future.

Q: What is the direct answer?

In the lawsuit between Elon Musk and OpenAI, Shivon Zilis testified that Musk had proposed to make OpenAI a subsidiary of Tesla, but the proposal was rejected by OpenAI executives. This lawsuit could significantly impact OpenAI's future.

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Source: https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aopl/202605070083.aspx | Date: Date unavailable

Central News Agency (Central News Agency, Auckland, 6th, comprehensive foreign report) Tech mogul Elon Musk recently sued OpenAI, alleging it violated its non-profit mission. OpenAI countered that he was aware of the situation. Musk's partner, Shivon Zilis, testified in court today that Musk had once proposed to make OpenAI a subsidiary of Tesla, but this was opposed by numerous senior executives. The Wall Street Journal reported that tech mogul Elon Musk accused OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman of defrauding him of $38 million. He initially believed OpenAI was non-profit, but later discovered it abandoned its charitable goals and transitioned into a for-profit company for self-enrichment. OpenAI countered that Musk was not only aware of the transition plan but also supported it, and demanded unilateral control over OpenAI. Zilis testified in court that "countless" possible structures were proposed at the time, including Musk's suggestion to make OpenAI a subsidiary of Tesla, but this was rejected by Altman, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, and OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever. She also pointed out that when Musk left OpenAI's board in 2018, he was concerned that his electric vehicle giant Tesla would compete with OpenAI for engineering talent in developing AI features. He specifically recruited a top OpenAI AI researcher to join Tesla a few days before his resignation. Zilis, 40, met Musk through OpenAI in 2016. At the time, she declined to serve as OpenAI's COO, instead becoming a volunteer advisor, and joined the board in 2020, by which time Musk had stopped donating to OpenAI. OpenAI's lawyers and executives stated in their testimony that Zilis was regarded as Musk's confidante and proxy. When it was difficult to directly contact Musk, her opinion was often sought. Despite Zilis working for Musk's Tesla and brain-chip company Neuralink, and having children with Musk while serving on OpenAI's board, Musk's team and Zilis herself insisted that she acted independently.

Zilis Testifies: Musk Once Proposed OpenAI Merge into Tesla

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