Shivon Zilis

Shivon Zilis is a Canadian-born artificial intelligence expert, venture capitalist and executive known for her leadership in the field of machine learning and her high-profile role at Elon Musk’s companies. Zilis has worked at the intersection of technology and ethics, helping shape the future of AI through strategic investments and hands-on leadership at some of the world’s most ambitious tech ventures.

Born in Ontario in 1986, Zilis studied economics and philosophy at Yale University, where she also played as a goalkeeper for the Yale Bulldogs women’s ice hockey team. After graduating in 2008, she began her career at IBM, focusing on financial technologies and cognitive computing. Her early interest in AI led her to a role at Bloomberg Beta, the venture capital arm of Bloomberg L.P., where she became a founding member and specialized in early-stage investments in machine intelligence.

Her work at Bloomberg Beta gained recognition across Silicon Valley and beyond. In 2015, Forbes named her to its "30 Under 30" list in the venture capital category, citing her innovative work in the emerging AI sector. Zilis also served as a fellow at the Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto, where she advised startups focused on deep tech and artificial intelligence.

Zilis joined Neuralink in 2017, a neurotechnology company co-founded by Elon Musk with the goal of building brain-machine interfaces. She held the position of director of operations and special projects, helping drive the company’s early development and operational strategy. Her role at Neuralink exemplified her reputation as a trusted strategist with deep technical fluency and business acumen.

In addition to Neuralink, Zilis became associated with Musk’s other ventures, including Tesla and OpenAI. She served on the board of OpenAI, the nonprofit research organization behind several breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, including large language models like ChatGPT. Her involvement at OpenAI underscored her commitment to ensuring that AI is developed responsibly and ethically.

Zilis attracted broader public attention in 2022 when court documents revealed she had twins with Elon Musk via in vitro fertilization. The twins were born in late 2021. While the revelation sparked media interest in her personal life, Zilis has remained largely private and focused on her professional work. In June 2024, it was reported that she had a third child with Musk. On February 28, 2025, Zilis announced the birth of her fourth child, a son who was conceived via IVF with Musk.

A dual citizen of Canada and the United States, Zilis continues to be a prominent figure in the AI community. Her career reflects a rare blend of technical depth, strategic thinking and ethical consideration, placing her at the forefront of conversations about the future of AI and its role in society.