Shivon Zilis, longtime confidante of Elon Musk and mother of four of his children, took the stand in the Oakland federal trial pitting Musk against OpenAI. As a former board member who approved the 2023 Microsoft investment, she described private conversations with Musk that shaped his view of the lab’s direction, as his adviser.

Musk’s suit, filed two years ago, alleges OpenAI breached its founding nonprofit charter by prioritising profit, and seeks $150 billion in damages plus a court order to unwind the for‑profit arm. He argues the $10 billion Microsoft deal effectively handed control to the tech giant, a point Zilis said terrified her after Sam Altman’s brief ouster and reinstatement, and market dynamics today.

Investors watch the case for clues on AI governance and potential restructuring of one of the world’s most valuable AI firms. If the court orders a split, OpenAI’s valuation could fragment, pressuring Microsoft’s stake and prompting a reevaluation of AI‑related portfolios, for shareholders worldwide. The trial underscores how personal networks can drive high‑stakes corporate conflict.