×
The Bumpboxx BB-777 is the ultimate in boombox nostalgia

The Bumpboxx BB-777 is the ultimate in boombox nostalgia

Bumpboxx is fully embracing nostalgia with its latest boombox, the BB-777, which is modeled very closely on the legendary Sharp GF-777. A real deal GF-777 will set you back over $2,000 for one in working order. Plus, that vintage unit lacks modern amenities like Bluetooth or a rechargeable battery. Heck, it doesn’t even have a CD player.

The BB-777 takes the core of the GF, right down to the dual-cassette decks, control layout, and speaker specs printed above the subwoofers. It’s undeniably a gorgeous piece of gear with its vintage silver finish and extensive physical controls. But then it adds a replaceable battery pack, Bluetooth, and an LCD screen. One unfortunate loss is the analog VU meters, something that We Are Rewind managed to include on its Blaster boombox.

There are six speakers: Two Super Woofers with dedicated gain control, two coaxial speakers, and two horn tweeters. They’re pushing out a total of 270W, so volume shouldn’t be a concern. Unless, of course, you’re worried about it being too loud. The speakers are ported too, to help with bass response.

In addition to the dual cassette decks, the BB-777 has a slot-loading CD player, an AM / FM / shortwave radio, USB audio playback (MP3 / WMA / WAV / FLAC / ACC), an aux input (with an included RCA adapter), plus Bluetooth. It can even record directly to a USB drive from the tape decks, CD, or radio for digitizing and archiving. Basically, the only thing it can’t do is stream audio directly over Wi-Fi.

There are also two microphone inputs on the front in case you want to get real old school and use the BB-777 to host a rap battle in the park or MC a break dancing competition. There are also two built-in mics for reasons that I’m not entirely sure of. But it might come in handy if you just want to quickly record your kid saying something funny on cassette.

There is a handle for lugging it around, but you’ll probably want to make use of the shoulder strap if you’re going more than a few yards, as the BB-777 weighs in at a chunky 28-pounds. Instead of going straight to market, Bumpboxx is taking the BB-777 to Kickstarter first. A pledge of $649 will secure you one when they start shipping, supposedly in June. After that, they’ll cost $1,049 at retail.

Source link
#Bumpboxx #BB777 #ultimate #boombox #nostalgia


Tim Cook is finally stepping down as Apple’s CEO after 15 years at the helm. On Thursday, his recently named successor, John Ternus, made his first earnings call cameo as the incoming CEO and gave a veiled glimpse into what Apple enthusiasts could expect from his tenure.

“We have an incredible roadmap ahead, and while you’re not going to get me to talk about the details of that roadmap, suffice it to say, this is the most exciting time in my 25-year career at Apple to be building products and services,” Ternus told investors.

When asked about his advice for Ternus, Cook said to “never forget” that Apple users are “the North Star for the company.”

“We’re about making the best products in the world that really enrich other people’s lives. And if you keep focusing on that and make your decisions around that, it will produce a great business, and we’ll be able to build more products and do it all over again,” Cook said on the call. “Our roadmap is incredible, and most importantly, we have the right leader ready to step into the role. As I have said, there is no one on this planet I trust more to lead Apple into the future than John Ternus.”

Ternus’s term as CEO will begin in September. Though the executives are keeping the product roadmap secret for now, a foldable iPhone is expected, and Apple wants Ternus to be the face people associate with it.

In his current role, Ternus leads the company’s hardware engineering efforts. The prospect of having a hardware specialist in charge has excited Apple fans who have been unsatisfied with what they claim is a slowdown of innovation in product releases. Cook has been blamed for this lack of revolutionary changes.

But while he may not have been as innovative as Steve Jobs, Cook oversaw the company’s transition into a trillion-dollar behemoth four times over. On Thursday’s earnings call, Ternus promised to continue Cook’s style of financial leadership.

“One of the hallmarks of Tim’s tenure has been a deep thoughtfulness, deliberateness, and discipline when it comes to the financial decision-making of the company, and I want you to know that is something Kevan and I intend to continue when I transition into the role in September,” Ternus told investors (Kevan being Apple CFO Kevan Parekh).

Apple is already promoting Ternus’ hardware engineering prowess as a benefit for the company. On the call, Cook shared that the iPhone 17 family, which was spearheaded by Ternus, is currently the most popular product lineup in Apple’s history.

Products aside, Ternus will also have a lot to answer for on the artificial intelligence side. The tech giant has been taking things slow on AI, while peers like Google and Microsoft soar past with AI innovations. The company has long promised a major leap in AI with an enhanced Siri, but had to push back the release at the very last minute in March 2025. The delay disappointed fans, reportedly caused an internal rift at the company, and even led to federal lawsuits accusing Apple of false advertising. The personalized Siri was expected to arrive early this year, but was reportedly delayed yet again.

In the call, Cook reiterated that the “more personalized Siri” would still be revealed later this year.

#Apples #Incoming #CEO #Earnings #Call #DebutApple,john ternus">Apple’s Incoming CEO Makes His Earnings Call Debut
                Tim Cook is finally stepping down as Apple’s CEO after 15 years at the helm. On Thursday, his recently named successor, John Ternus, made his first earnings call cameo as the incoming CEO and gave a veiled glimpse into what Apple enthusiasts could expect from his tenure.

 “We have an incredible roadmap ahead, and while you’re not going to get me to talk about the details of that roadmap, suffice it to say, this is the most exciting time in my 25-year career at Apple to be building products and services,” Ternus told investors. When asked about his advice for Ternus, Cook said to “never forget” that Apple users are “the North Star for the company.” “We’re about making the best products in the world that really enrich other people’s lives. And if you keep focusing on that and make your decisions around that, it will produce a great business, and we’ll be able to build more products and do it all over again,” Cook said on the call. “Our roadmap is incredible, and most importantly, we have the right leader ready to step into the role. As I have said, there is no one on this planet I trust more to lead Apple into the future than John Ternus.”

 Ternus’s term as CEO will begin in September. Though the executives are keeping the product roadmap secret for now, a foldable iPhone is expected, and Apple wants Ternus to be the face people associate with it. In his current role, Ternus leads the company’s hardware engineering efforts. The prospect of having a hardware specialist in charge has excited Apple fans who have been unsatisfied with what they claim is a slowdown of innovation in product releases. Cook has been blamed for this lack of revolutionary changes.

 But while he may not have been as innovative as Steve Jobs, Cook oversaw the company’s transition into a trillion-dollar behemoth four times over. On Thursday’s earnings call, Ternus promised to continue Cook’s style of financial leadership. “One of the hallmarks of Tim’s tenure has been a deep thoughtfulness, deliberateness, and discipline when it comes to the financial decision-making of the company, and I want you to know that is something Kevan and I intend to continue when I transition into the role in September,” Ternus told investors (Kevan being Apple CFO Kevan Parekh).

 Apple is already promoting Ternus’ hardware engineering prowess as a benefit for the company. On the call, Cook shared that the iPhone 17 family, which was spearheaded by Ternus, is currently the most popular product lineup in Apple’s history. Products aside, Ternus will also have a lot to answer for on the artificial intelligence side. The tech giant has been taking things slow on AI, while peers like Google and Microsoft soar past with AI innovations. The company has long promised a major leap in AI with an enhanced Siri, but had to push back the release at the very last minute in March 2025. The delay disappointed fans, reportedly caused an internal rift at the company, and even led to federal lawsuits accusing Apple of false advertising. The personalized Siri was expected to arrive early this year, but was reportedly delayed yet again.

 In the call, Cook reiterated that the “more personalized Siri” would still be revealed later this year.      #Apples #Incoming #CEO #Earnings #Call #DebutApple,john ternus

John Ternus, made his first earnings call cameo as the incoming CEO and gave a veiled glimpse into what Apple enthusiasts could expect from his tenure.

“We have an incredible roadmap ahead, and while you’re not going to get me to talk about the details of that roadmap, suffice it to say, this is the most exciting time in my 25-year career at Apple to be building products and services,” Ternus told investors.

When asked about his advice for Ternus, Cook said to “never forget” that Apple users are “the North Star for the company.”

“We’re about making the best products in the world that really enrich other people’s lives. And if you keep focusing on that and make your decisions around that, it will produce a great business, and we’ll be able to build more products and do it all over again,” Cook said on the call. “Our roadmap is incredible, and most importantly, we have the right leader ready to step into the role. As I have said, there is no one on this planet I trust more to lead Apple into the future than John Ternus.”

Ternus’s term as CEO will begin in September. Though the executives are keeping the product roadmap secret for now, a foldable iPhone is expected, and Apple wants Ternus to be the face people associate with it.

In his current role, Ternus leads the company’s hardware engineering efforts. The prospect of having a hardware specialist in charge has excited Apple fans who have been unsatisfied with what they claim is a slowdown of innovation in product releases. Cook has been blamed for this lack of revolutionary changes.

But while he may not have been as innovative as Steve Jobs, Cook oversaw the company’s transition into a trillion-dollar behemoth four times over. On Thursday’s earnings call, Ternus promised to continue Cook’s style of financial leadership.

“One of the hallmarks of Tim’s tenure has been a deep thoughtfulness, deliberateness, and discipline when it comes to the financial decision-making of the company, and I want you to know that is something Kevan and I intend to continue when I transition into the role in September,” Ternus told investors (Kevan being Apple CFO Kevan Parekh).

Apple is already promoting Ternus’ hardware engineering prowess as a benefit for the company. On the call, Cook shared that the iPhone 17 family, which was spearheaded by Ternus, is currently the most popular product lineup in Apple’s history.

Products aside, Ternus will also have a lot to answer for on the artificial intelligence side. The tech giant has been taking things slow on AI, while peers like Google and Microsoft soar past with AI innovations. The company has long promised a major leap in AI with an enhanced Siri, but had to push back the release at the very last minute in March 2025. The delay disappointed fans, reportedly caused an internal rift at the company, and even led to federal lawsuits accusing Apple of false advertising. The personalized Siri was expected to arrive early this year, but was reportedly delayed yet again.

In the call, Cook reiterated that the “more personalized Siri” would still be revealed later this year.

#Apples #Incoming #CEO #Earnings #Call #DebutApple,john ternus">Apple’s Incoming CEO Makes His Earnings Call DebutApple’s Incoming CEO Makes His Earnings Call Debut
                Tim Cook is finally stepping down as Apple’s CEO after 15 years at the helm. On Thursday, his recently named successor, John Ternus, made his first earnings call cameo as the incoming CEO and gave a veiled glimpse into what Apple enthusiasts could expect from his tenure.

 “We have an incredible roadmap ahead, and while you’re not going to get me to talk about the details of that roadmap, suffice it to say, this is the most exciting time in my 25-year career at Apple to be building products and services,” Ternus told investors. When asked about his advice for Ternus, Cook said to “never forget” that Apple users are “the North Star for the company.” “We’re about making the best products in the world that really enrich other people’s lives. And if you keep focusing on that and make your decisions around that, it will produce a great business, and we’ll be able to build more products and do it all over again,” Cook said on the call. “Our roadmap is incredible, and most importantly, we have the right leader ready to step into the role. As I have said, there is no one on this planet I trust more to lead Apple into the future than John Ternus.”

 Ternus’s term as CEO will begin in September. Though the executives are keeping the product roadmap secret for now, a foldable iPhone is expected, and Apple wants Ternus to be the face people associate with it. In his current role, Ternus leads the company’s hardware engineering efforts. The prospect of having a hardware specialist in charge has excited Apple fans who have been unsatisfied with what they claim is a slowdown of innovation in product releases. Cook has been blamed for this lack of revolutionary changes.

 But while he may not have been as innovative as Steve Jobs, Cook oversaw the company’s transition into a trillion-dollar behemoth four times over. On Thursday’s earnings call, Ternus promised to continue Cook’s style of financial leadership. “One of the hallmarks of Tim’s tenure has been a deep thoughtfulness, deliberateness, and discipline when it comes to the financial decision-making of the company, and I want you to know that is something Kevan and I intend to continue when I transition into the role in September,” Ternus told investors (Kevan being Apple CFO Kevan Parekh).

 Apple is already promoting Ternus’ hardware engineering prowess as a benefit for the company. On the call, Cook shared that the iPhone 17 family, which was spearheaded by Ternus, is currently the most popular product lineup in Apple’s history. Products aside, Ternus will also have a lot to answer for on the artificial intelligence side. The tech giant has been taking things slow on AI, while peers like Google and Microsoft soar past with AI innovations. The company has long promised a major leap in AI with an enhanced Siri, but had to push back the release at the very last minute in March 2025. The delay disappointed fans, reportedly caused an internal rift at the company, and even led to federal lawsuits accusing Apple of false advertising. The personalized Siri was expected to arrive early this year, but was reportedly delayed yet again.

 In the call, Cook reiterated that the “more personalized Siri” would still be revealed later this year.      #Apples #Incoming #CEO #Earnings #Call #DebutApple,john ternus

Tim Cook is finally stepping down as Apple’s CEO after 15 years at the helm. On Thursday, his recently named successor, John Ternus, made his first earnings call cameo as the incoming CEO and gave a veiled glimpse into what Apple enthusiasts could expect from his tenure.

“We have an incredible roadmap ahead, and while you’re not going to get me to talk about the details of that roadmap, suffice it to say, this is the most exciting time in my 25-year career at Apple to be building products and services,” Ternus told investors.

When asked about his advice for Ternus, Cook said to “never forget” that Apple users are “the North Star for the company.”

“We’re about making the best products in the world that really enrich other people’s lives. And if you keep focusing on that and make your decisions around that, it will produce a great business, and we’ll be able to build more products and do it all over again,” Cook said on the call. “Our roadmap is incredible, and most importantly, we have the right leader ready to step into the role. As I have said, there is no one on this planet I trust more to lead Apple into the future than John Ternus.”

Ternus’s term as CEO will begin in September. Though the executives are keeping the product roadmap secret for now, a foldable iPhone is expected, and Apple wants Ternus to be the face people associate with it.

In his current role, Ternus leads the company’s hardware engineering efforts. The prospect of having a hardware specialist in charge has excited Apple fans who have been unsatisfied with what they claim is a slowdown of innovation in product releases. Cook has been blamed for this lack of revolutionary changes.

But while he may not have been as innovative as Steve Jobs, Cook oversaw the company’s transition into a trillion-dollar behemoth four times over. On Thursday’s earnings call, Ternus promised to continue Cook’s style of financial leadership.

“One of the hallmarks of Tim’s tenure has been a deep thoughtfulness, deliberateness, and discipline when it comes to the financial decision-making of the company, and I want you to know that is something Kevan and I intend to continue when I transition into the role in September,” Ternus told investors (Kevan being Apple CFO Kevan Parekh).

Apple is already promoting Ternus’ hardware engineering prowess as a benefit for the company. On the call, Cook shared that the iPhone 17 family, which was spearheaded by Ternus, is currently the most popular product lineup in Apple’s history.

Products aside, Ternus will also have a lot to answer for on the artificial intelligence side. The tech giant has been taking things slow on AI, while peers like Google and Microsoft soar past with AI innovations. The company has long promised a major leap in AI with an enhanced Siri, but had to push back the release at the very last minute in March 2025. The delay disappointed fans, reportedly caused an internal rift at the company, and even led to federal lawsuits accusing Apple of false advertising. The personalized Siri was expected to arrive early this year, but was reportedly delayed yet again.

In the call, Cook reiterated that the “more personalized Siri” would still be revealed later this year.

#Apples #Incoming #CEO #Earnings #Call #DebutApple,john ternus

As the first week of trial in Musk v. Altman comes to a close, one person has emerged as a critical behind-the-scenes manager of communications and egos in OpenAI’s early years: Shivon Zilis.

A longtime employee of Musk and the mother to four of his children, Zilis joined OpenAI as an adviser in 2016. She later served as a director of its nonprofit board from 2020 until 2023 and has worked as an executive at Musk’s other companies, Neuralink and Tesla.

When asked about the nature of his relationship with Zilis in court, Musk offered several answers. At one point, he called her a “chief of staff.” Later, a “close adviser.” At another point, he said “we live together, and she’s the mother of four of my children,” though Zilis said in a deposition that Musk is more of a regular guest and maintains his own residence. Last September, Zilis told OpenAI’s attorneys that she became romantic with Musk around 2016 after she had become an informal adviser to OpenAI. They had their first two children in 2021, she said.

But OpenAI’s lawyers have made the case in witness testimonies and evidence that her most important role, as it pertains to this lawsuit, is being a covert liaison between OpenAI and Musk, even years after he left the nonprofit’s board in February 2018.

“Do you prefer I stay close and friendly to OpenAI to keep info flowing or begin to disassociate? Trust game is about to get tricky so any guidance for how to do right by you is appreciated,” Zilis wrote in a text message to Musk on February 16, 2018, days before OpenAI announced he was leaving the board. Musk responded, “Close and friendly, but we are going to actively try to move three or four people from OpenAI to Tesla. More than that will join over time, but we won’t actively recruit them.”

When asked about this exchange on the witness stand, Musk said he “wanted to know what’s going on.”

In the same text thread, Musk wrote, “There is little chance of OpenAI being a serious force if I focus on Tesla AI.” Zilis reaffirmed him, saying: “There is very low probability of a good future if someone doesn’t slow Demis down,” referring to Demis Hassabis, the leader of Google DeepMind, who Musk has said he didn’t trust to control a superintelligent AI system. “You don’t realize how much you have an ability to influence him directly or otherwise slow him down. I think you know I’m not a malicious person, but in this case it feels fundamentally irresponsible to not find a way to slow or alter his path.”

Roughly two months later, in an email from April 23, 2018, Zilis updated Musk on OpenAI’s fundraising efforts and progress on a project to develop an AI that could play video games. In the same message, she said she had reallocated most of her time away from OpenAI to his other companies, Neuralink and Tesla, but told him, “If you’d prefer I pull more hours back to OpenAI oversight please let me know.”

Almost a year earlier, in the summer of 2017, OpenAI’s cofounders had started negotiating changes to the organization’s corporate structure—Musk wanted control of the company to start out. In an email from August 28, 2017, Zilis wrote to Musk that she had met with OpenAI president Greg Brockman and cofounder Ilya Sutskever to discuss how equity would be divided up in the new company. She summarized points from the meeting, including that Brockman and Sutskever thought one person shouldn’t have unilateral power over AGI, should they develop it. Musk wrote back to Zilis, “This is very annoying. Please encourage them to go start a company. I’ve had enough.”

#Shivon #Zilis #Operated #Elon #Musks #OpenAI #Insidermodel behavior,artificial intelligence,openai,elon musk,sam altman,neuralink,musk v. altman trial">How Shivon Zilis Operated as Elon Musk’s OpenAI InsiderAs the first week of trial in Musk v. Altman comes to a close, one person has emerged as a critical behind-the-scenes manager of communications and egos in OpenAI’s early years: Shivon Zilis.A longtime employee of Musk and the mother to four of his children, Zilis joined OpenAI as an adviser in 2016. She later served as a director of its nonprofit board from 2020 until 2023 and has worked as an executive at Musk’s other companies, Neuralink and Tesla.When asked about the nature of his relationship with Zilis in court, Musk offered several answers. At one point, he called her a “chief of staff.” Later, a “close adviser.” At another point, he said “we live together, and she’s the mother of four of my children,” though Zilis said in a deposition that Musk is more of a regular guest and maintains his own residence. Last September, Zilis told OpenAI’s attorneys that she became romantic with Musk around 2016 after she had become an informal adviser to OpenAI. They had their first two children in 2021, she said.But OpenAI’s lawyers have made the case in witness testimonies and evidence that her most important role, as it pertains to this lawsuit, is being a covert liaison between OpenAI and Musk, even years after he left the nonprofit’s board in February 2018.“Do you prefer I stay close and friendly to OpenAI to keep info flowing or begin to disassociate? Trust game is about to get tricky so any guidance for how to do right by you is appreciated,” Zilis wrote in a text message to Musk on February 16, 2018, days before OpenAI announced he was leaving the board. Musk responded, “Close and friendly, but we are going to actively try to move three or four people from OpenAI to Tesla. More than that will join over time, but we won’t actively recruit them.”When asked about this exchange on the witness stand, Musk said he “wanted to know what’s going on.”In the same text thread, Musk wrote, “There is little chance of OpenAI being a serious force if I focus on Tesla AI.” Zilis reaffirmed him, saying: “There is very low probability of a good future if someone doesn’t slow Demis down,” referring to Demis Hassabis, the leader of Google DeepMind, who Musk has said he didn’t trust to control a superintelligent AI system. “You don’t realize how much you have an ability to influence him directly or otherwise slow him down. I think you know I’m not a malicious person, but in this case it feels fundamentally irresponsible to not find a way to slow or alter his path.”Roughly two months later, in an email from April 23, 2018, Zilis updated Musk on OpenAI’s fundraising efforts and progress on a project to develop an AI that could play video games. In the same message, she said she had reallocated most of her time away from OpenAI to his other companies, Neuralink and Tesla, but told him, “If you’d prefer I pull more hours back to OpenAI oversight please let me know.”Almost a year earlier, in the summer of 2017, OpenAI’s cofounders had started negotiating changes to the organization’s corporate structure—Musk wanted control of the company to start out. In an email from August 28, 2017, Zilis wrote to Musk that she had met with OpenAI president Greg Brockman and cofounder Ilya Sutskever to discuss how equity would be divided up in the new company. She summarized points from the meeting, including that Brockman and Sutskever thought one person shouldn’t have unilateral power over AGI, should they develop it. Musk wrote back to Zilis, “This is very annoying. Please encourage them to go start a company. I’ve had enough.”#Shivon #Zilis #Operated #Elon #Musks #OpenAI #Insidermodel behavior,artificial intelligence,openai,elon musk,sam altman,neuralink,musk v. altman trial

trial in Musk v. Altman comes to a close, one person has emerged as a critical behind-the-scenes manager of communications and egos in OpenAI’s early years: Shivon Zilis.

A longtime employee of Musk and the mother to four of his children, Zilis joined OpenAI as an adviser in 2016. She later served as a director of its nonprofit board from 2020 until 2023 and has worked as an executive at Musk’s other companies, Neuralink and Tesla.

When asked about the nature of his relationship with Zilis in court, Musk offered several answers. At one point, he called her a “chief of staff.” Later, a “close adviser.” At another point, he said “we live together, and she’s the mother of four of my children,” though Zilis said in a deposition that Musk is more of a regular guest and maintains his own residence. Last September, Zilis told OpenAI’s attorneys that she became romantic with Musk around 2016 after she had become an informal adviser to OpenAI. They had their first two children in 2021, she said.

But OpenAI’s lawyers have made the case in witness testimonies and evidence that her most important role, as it pertains to this lawsuit, is being a covert liaison between OpenAI and Musk, even years after he left the nonprofit’s board in February 2018.

“Do you prefer I stay close and friendly to OpenAI to keep info flowing or begin to disassociate? Trust game is about to get tricky so any guidance for how to do right by you is appreciated,” Zilis wrote in a text message to Musk on February 16, 2018, days before OpenAI announced he was leaving the board. Musk responded, “Close and friendly, but we are going to actively try to move three or four people from OpenAI to Tesla. More than that will join over time, but we won’t actively recruit them.”

When asked about this exchange on the witness stand, Musk said he “wanted to know what’s going on.”

In the same text thread, Musk wrote, “There is little chance of OpenAI being a serious force if I focus on Tesla AI.” Zilis reaffirmed him, saying: “There is very low probability of a good future if someone doesn’t slow Demis down,” referring to Demis Hassabis, the leader of Google DeepMind, who Musk has said he didn’t trust to control a superintelligent AI system. “You don’t realize how much you have an ability to influence him directly or otherwise slow him down. I think you know I’m not a malicious person, but in this case it feels fundamentally irresponsible to not find a way to slow or alter his path.”

Roughly two months later, in an email from April 23, 2018, Zilis updated Musk on OpenAI’s fundraising efforts and progress on a project to develop an AI that could play video games. In the same message, she said she had reallocated most of her time away from OpenAI to his other companies, Neuralink and Tesla, but told him, “If you’d prefer I pull more hours back to OpenAI oversight please let me know.”

Almost a year earlier, in the summer of 2017, OpenAI’s cofounders had started negotiating changes to the organization’s corporate structure—Musk wanted control of the company to start out. In an email from August 28, 2017, Zilis wrote to Musk that she had met with OpenAI president Greg Brockman and cofounder Ilya Sutskever to discuss how equity would be divided up in the new company. She summarized points from the meeting, including that Brockman and Sutskever thought one person shouldn’t have unilateral power over AGI, should they develop it. Musk wrote back to Zilis, “This is very annoying. Please encourage them to go start a company. I’ve had enough.”

#Shivon #Zilis #Operated #Elon #Musks #OpenAI #Insidermodel behavior,artificial intelligence,openai,elon musk,sam altman,neuralink,musk v. altman trial">How Shivon Zilis Operated as Elon Musk’s OpenAI Insider

As the first week of trial in Musk v. Altman comes to a close, one person has emerged as a critical behind-the-scenes manager of communications and egos in OpenAI’s early years: Shivon Zilis.

A longtime employee of Musk and the mother to four of his children, Zilis joined OpenAI as an adviser in 2016. She later served as a director of its nonprofit board from 2020 until 2023 and has worked as an executive at Musk’s other companies, Neuralink and Tesla.

When asked about the nature of his relationship with Zilis in court, Musk offered several answers. At one point, he called her a “chief of staff.” Later, a “close adviser.” At another point, he said “we live together, and she’s the mother of four of my children,” though Zilis said in a deposition that Musk is more of a regular guest and maintains his own residence. Last September, Zilis told OpenAI’s attorneys that she became romantic with Musk around 2016 after she had become an informal adviser to OpenAI. They had their first two children in 2021, she said.

But OpenAI’s lawyers have made the case in witness testimonies and evidence that her most important role, as it pertains to this lawsuit, is being a covert liaison between OpenAI and Musk, even years after he left the nonprofit’s board in February 2018.

“Do you prefer I stay close and friendly to OpenAI to keep info flowing or begin to disassociate? Trust game is about to get tricky so any guidance for how to do right by you is appreciated,” Zilis wrote in a text message to Musk on February 16, 2018, days before OpenAI announced he was leaving the board. Musk responded, “Close and friendly, but we are going to actively try to move three or four people from OpenAI to Tesla. More than that will join over time, but we won’t actively recruit them.”

When asked about this exchange on the witness stand, Musk said he “wanted to know what’s going on.”

In the same text thread, Musk wrote, “There is little chance of OpenAI being a serious force if I focus on Tesla AI.” Zilis reaffirmed him, saying: “There is very low probability of a good future if someone doesn’t slow Demis down,” referring to Demis Hassabis, the leader of Google DeepMind, who Musk has said he didn’t trust to control a superintelligent AI system. “You don’t realize how much you have an ability to influence him directly or otherwise slow him down. I think you know I’m not a malicious person, but in this case it feels fundamentally irresponsible to not find a way to slow or alter his path.”

Roughly two months later, in an email from April 23, 2018, Zilis updated Musk on OpenAI’s fundraising efforts and progress on a project to develop an AI that could play video games. In the same message, she said she had reallocated most of her time away from OpenAI to his other companies, Neuralink and Tesla, but told him, “If you’d prefer I pull more hours back to OpenAI oversight please let me know.”

Almost a year earlier, in the summer of 2017, OpenAI’s cofounders had started negotiating changes to the organization’s corporate structure—Musk wanted control of the company to start out. In an email from August 28, 2017, Zilis wrote to Musk that she had met with OpenAI president Greg Brockman and cofounder Ilya Sutskever to discuss how equity would be divided up in the new company. She summarized points from the meeting, including that Brockman and Sutskever thought one person shouldn’t have unilateral power over AGI, should they develop it. Musk wrote back to Zilis, “This is very annoying. Please encourage them to go start a company. I’ve had enough.”

#Shivon #Zilis #Operated #Elon #Musks #OpenAI #Insidermodel behavior,artificial intelligence,openai,elon musk,sam altman,neuralink,musk v. altman trial

Post Comment