Who is Shivon Zilis?
Shivon Zilis, a Canadian AI expert and venture capitalist, is in the news due to her relationship with Elon Musk and her prominent roles in the tech industry. She is the mother of four of Musk’s children and holds key positions at several of his companies, including OpenAI, Tesla, and Neuralink.
Zilis recently announced the birth of her fourth child with Musk.
Background in AI and Venture Capital
Born in Markham, Ontario, in 1986, Zilis had a strong academic and athletic background. She graduated from Yale University with degrees in economics and philosophy, playing ice hockey while studying. Her career began at IBM, working on financial technology and machine learning, marking an early entry into the AI field.
Zilis gained recognition in venture capital through her work at Bloomberg Beta, Bloomberg’s venture capital arm. Her investments targeted AI and automation. Her expertise earned her a spot on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in 2015. During this time, she established herself as a rising star, making valuable connections within the technology and venture capital sectors.
Ties with Elon Musk
Her growing influence in AI led her to Elon Musk. In 2016, she joined OpenAI, an AI research lab co-founded by Musk, as a board member. From 2017 to 2019, she contributed to Tesla’s Autopilot program and semiconductor initiatives. She also took on a leadership position at Neuralink, Musk’s brain-chip startup, where she currently serves as director of operations and special projects.
Zilis’s name gained wider attention in 2022 when reports surfaced of her having twins with Musk in 2021. This was revealed through court documents seeking to change the children’s last names to include Musk’s surname. In 2024, Bloomberg reported a third child was born to the couple earlier that year.
Beyond her professional work, Zilis shares Musk’s interest in gaming. She has expressed an interest in strategic and fantasy games, including Elden Ring, which Musk has also praised. This interest ties into her broader view of Al’s potential, as gaming has frequently served as a testing ground for AI advancements.
