AI Ethics Council - Co-Chaired by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman & CEO John Hope Bryant - Appoints Two New Board Members

By: Operation HOPE, Inc. via Business Wire

August 13, 2025 at 08:00 AM EDT

Robert Silvers, former Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary, and Richard D. Phillips, Dean of Georgia State University’s Robinson College of Business, join the AIEC to strengthen its cross-sector mission to ensure ethical and inclusive AI development

The Artificial Intelligence Ethics Council (AIEC), an initiative powered by Operation HOPE and co-chaired by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman, and CEO John Hope Bryant, today announced the appointment of two distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors: Robert Silvers, Co-Chair of the National Security Practice and Partner in the Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice at Ropes & Gray LLP and former Under Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Dr. Richard D. Phillips, Dean and C.V. Starr Professor of Risk Management and Insurance at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson School of Business.

“These appointments mark an exciting new chapter for the AIEC,” said Ernest Nicholson, President, Operation HOPE Initiatives. “Robert and Richard bring unmatched leadership, credibility, and cross-sector expertise that will strengthen our work to ensure artificial intelligence is developed and deployed in ways that prioritize equity, ethics, and opportunity for all.”

Robert Silvers is Co-Chair of the National Security Practice and Partner in the Data, Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice at Ropes & Gray. He is a globally recognized leader at the intersection of security, emerging technology, and law. As former Under Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (a Senate‑confirmed role), he led government efforts on cybersecurity, AI security, supply chain resilience, and national security regulation of technology. Silvers chaired the U.S. Cyber Safety Review Board and the federal Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force, playing a pivotal role in shaping national AI and cybersecurity policy. Silvers is also a distinguished fellow at the NYU Center for Cybersecurity. His extensive experience advising Fortune 10 companies, navigating CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.) reviews, and managing complex regulatory and legal challenges positions him as a powerful voice in guiding ethical AI practices.

Dr. Richard D. Phillips is the seventh dean of Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business. Under his leadership, the college has become one of the most innovative business schools in the nation, earning four “Innovations That Inspire” recognitions from the Association to Accredit Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). An accomplished scholar with over 60 publications, Phillips has shaped advancements in financial intermediation, risk management, and insurance economics, earning multiple awards for his research, including three Robert I. Mehr Awards presented to the authors of the best paper published in the Journal of Risk and Insurance judged ten years after initial publication. Phillips is the member of multiple non-profit and corporate boards.

The addition of Silvers and Phillips follows the AIEC’s successful June board meeting and builds on the Council’s momentum in shaping an ethical AI future. Their insights and leadership will help the AIEC deepen its impact at a time when artificial intelligence is transforming every sector of society.

ABOUT OPERATION HOPE, INC.

Since 1992, Operation HOPE has empowered more than 4 million individuals with financial literacy, credit and money management coaching, home ownership, and small business support—advancing “silver rights” to help low- and moderate-income Americans achieve economic dignity. Through its award-winning HOPE Inside model, the organization has helped generate over $4.2 billion in economic activity. We operate in nearly 300 cities serving 1,500 locations throughout the United States. Learn more at OperationHOPE.org.

ABOUT ROPES & GRAY

Ropes & Gray, a preeminent global law firm, has been ranked in the top three on The American Lawyer's prestigious "A-List" for eight years. The firm has more than 1,500 lawyers and legal professionals serving clients in major centers of business, finance, technology, and government in New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Washington, DC, London, Dublin, Paris, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo. The firm has consistently been recognized for its leading practices in many areas, including asset management, private equity, M&A, finance, real estate, tax, antitrust, life sciences, health care, intellectual property, litigation & enforcement, privacy & cybersecurity, and business restructuring.

ABOUT GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY’S J. MACK ROBINSON COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Founded in 1913 and boasting close to 85,000 alumni, Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the U.S. The college offers 11 undergraduate majors, 12 specialized master’s programs, two MBA programs, and Ph.D. and practitioner doctorate (DBA) programs. A four-time recipient of AACSB’s Innovations That Inspire award, Robinson’s unique interdisciplinary culture and groundbreaking co-curricular and immersive experiences equip students with the critical skills employers seek in new hires. Consistent with Georgia State’s award-winning student success model, Robinson works to ensure that students from all backgrounds can succeed, whether pioneering new businesses or leading established organizations. More Georgia executives hold advanced degrees from the Robinson College of Business and Georgia State University than from any other school in the U.S. Learn more at robinson.gsu.edu.

ABOUT THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE EQUITY COUNCIL (AIEC)

The AIEC, powered by Operation HOPE, works to ensure the benefits of artificial intelligence are accessible to all, while safeguarding against bias, inequity, and ethical risks. Through cross-sector collaboration, policy engagement, and public education, the AIEC advances a vision for AI that promotes fairness, opportunity, and economic dignity.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250813751228/en/

Contacts

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Operation HOPE

Nzinga “Zing” Shaw

Senior Vice President, Communications | nzinga.shaw@operationhope.org

Ropes & Gray

Jack Levy

Public Relations Manager | jack.levy@ropesgray.com

Georgia State University – Robinson College of Business

Holly Frew

Director, Public Relations and External Communications | hfrew@gsu.edu

About Us

About Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Contact Cabling Installation & Maintenance

Editorial

Advertising and Sponsorship Sales

Subscriptions and Memberships

Feedback/Problems

AI Ethics Council - Co-Chaired by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman & CEO John Hope Bryant - Appoints Two New Board Members

Contacts

More News