Shivon Zilis, a former OpenAI board member, has disclosed that Elon Musk offered her sperm donations while she was advising the AI company. Zilis is the biological mother of four of Musk's children, according to reporting from BBC Technology.
The revelation adds another layer to the already complicated relationship between Musk and OpenAI. Zilis served on OpenAI's board during a period when Musk was deeply involved with the nonprofit organization he co-founded in 2015. Her personal relationship with Musk, which resulted in four children, overlapped with her professional role at the company.
This disclosure comes amid broader scrutiny of Musk's involvement with OpenAI and his subsequent exit from the board. Musk co-founded OpenAI as a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring artificial intelligence development benefits humanity, but he left the board in 2018. His relationship with the organization has remained contentious, particularly after OpenAI transitioned to a capped-profit model and received major backing from Microsoft.
Zilis has maintained her connection to Musk's ventures, working with his companies on AI and neurotechnology initiatives. Her dual role as both a professional advisor and personal partner to Musk raises questions about workplace dynamics and conflict of interest during her time on OpenAI's board.
The timing and context of Musk's offer to Zilis remain unclear from available reporting. However, the disclosure underscores the intertwining of Musk's personal life with his business and philanthropic endeavors. OpenAI has faced criticism for governance issues and ethical concerns in recent years, making the clarity around board member relationships increasingly relevant to stakeholders and the broader tech industry.