One text shows how Sam Altman asked Shivon Zilis, the Elon Musk whisperer, for advice on how to make nice

In a fascinating look into the relationship between Sam Altman and Elon Musk, a recently uncovered text message has shed light on Altman's efforts to mend fences with Musk. The communication, which emerged as part of Musk's legal proceedings against Altman and OpenAI, shows Altman reaching out to Shivon Zilis, a close advisor to Musk, asking for guidance on whether to publicly commend Musk. Sent on February 9, 2023, the text reveals Altman's intention to post a favorable message on social media about Musk's contributions to OpenAI. "By the way, good idea for me to tweet something nice about Elon?" Altman wrote, referencing Musk's previous private message regarding his absence from a photo during a significant OpenAI event. This suggests Altman was keenly aware of the growing distance in their relationship and was actively seeking to address it. Just days later, Altman followed through, posting a message on X that praised Musk's influence on society and his critical role in raising collective ambition during challenging times. This public acknowledgment appears to be a strategic move by Altman to counter Musk's rising criticism of OpenAI, the organization they co-founded in 2015 with a vision of advancing artificial intelligence for the greater good. Shivon Zilis, who has been a steadfast supporter of Musk and holds multiple roles within his companies, provided the text as part of legal evidence, further illustrating the complex dynamics at play. The legal filings reveal a pattern of conflict between Altman and Musk that dates back years, including Musk's frustrations over OpenAI's trajectory and funding decisions. Historically, their interactions have been marked by tension, with Musk expressing dissatisfaction over OpenAI's direction as early as 2016. His 2017 ultimatum about funding highlighted the stakes in their partnership, which often swung between collaboration and contention. Altman's recent outreach to Zilis echoes those earlier attempts at reconciliation, suggesting that the desire to maintain a working relationship remains strong amid public disputes. As the ongoing legal battle unfolds in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the revelations from these texts and emails provide a rare glimpse into how two of the tech industry's most prominent figures navigate their complicated history and the high-stakes landscape of artificial intelligence.