Shivon Zilis
Shivon Zilis is a venture capitalist and artificial intelligence (AI) expert. She is a founding member of Bloomberg Beta, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies, and has been recognized as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital. Zilis is also a member of the board of directors of OpenAI, a nonprofit AI research organization, and the Future of Life Institute, which advocates for the responsible development of AI.
Early Life and Education Shivon Zilis was born and raised in Canada, and she completed her undergraduate degree in computer science at the University of Waterloo. After graduation, Zilis worked as a software engineer at Microsoft and later as a product manager at Dropbox. She also earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she focused on technology entrepreneurship.
Venture Capital Career After completing her MBA, Zilis joined Bloomberg Beta as a founding member in 2013. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage startups in areas such as AI, machine learning, and data-driven technology. Zilis has been an active investor in the AI space, and her investments include startups such as Orbital Insight, Freenome, and Primer.
In addition to her work at Bloomberg Beta, Zilis is also a mentor and advisor to startups and entrepreneurs. She has been recognized for her contributions to the tech community, and in 2015, she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital list.
AI Expertise and Advocacy As an expert in AI and machine learning, Zilis has spoken extensively on the topic and has been an advocate for the responsible development and use of these technologies. She has written about the potential risks and benefits of AI, and has called for greater transparency and accountability in AI development.
Zilis is also a member of the board of directors of OpenAI, a nonprofit AI research organization founded by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and John Schulman. The organization’s mission is to develop safe and beneficial AI systems for the betterment of humanity.
Shivon Zilis, a prominent figure in the artificial intelligence industry and Neuralink executive, has stepped down from the board of OpenAI, according to a report from tech news site The Information. Zilis, a Canadian-born expert in AI, first joined OpenAI as an advisor in 2016, and was later hired by Tesla to work on the autopilot technology. She is also the mother of twin babies fathered by her boss Elon Musk through in vitro fertilization.
Musk, who is a co-founder of OpenAI, recently criticized the company’s decision to reveal a private valuation of around $30 billion from investors such as Microsoft, questioning how a non-profit that he donated around $100 million to had become a for-profit company. Musk also criticized the company’s development, saying that it had become a closed source, maximum-profit company that was effectively controlled by Microsoft, not what he intended when he helped found the company in 2015.
Zilis’ departure from the OpenAI board comes after a series of criticisms by Musk and co-founder Reid Hoffman, who also stepped down from the board citing conflicts of interests with other AI-centric firms. According to a report from Semafor, Musk sought to gain control of the company and run it himself, but was rejected by Altman and other co-founders, causing Musk to walk away from the project and renege on an earlier pledge to donate more money.
Despite these criticisms, OpenAI remains a key player in the AI industry, and its products and research have been widely celebrated. One of its most notable achievements is ChatGPT, an AI-powered chat bot that has been praised for its conversational language and learning capabilities, which some believe could one day supplant humans in knowledge-based industries.
In conclusion, Shivon Zilis’ departure from the board of OpenAI is a notable development in the world of AI, particularly given her expertise in the field. While criticisms from Musk and other co-founders have raised questions about the company’s direction and leadership, OpenAI remains a leader in AI research and development, and its products continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with artificial intelligence.
Conclusion Shivon Zilis is an accomplished venture capitalist and AI expert who has made significant contributions to the tech community. Her work at Bloomberg Beta has helped to support early-stage startups in the AI and machine learning space, and her advocacy for responsible AI development has helped to raise awareness of the potential risks and benefits of these technologies. As AI continues to evolve and impact society, Zilis’ insights and expertise will continue to be valuable for entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers alike.
