Open AI Board of Directors
Topic Summary
As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries and societies, OpenAI and its Board of Directors sit at the center of both immense opportunity and significant risk. With expanding model capabilities, major partnerships, and increasing global scrutiny, this committee will explore the strategic and ethical challenges of governing one of the world’s most influential AI organizations. Delegates will grapple with decisions around deployment, safety, commercialization, and transparency in a fast-moving and high-stakes environment.
Through a crisis-driven lens, the committee will simulate the internal decision-making of OpenAI’s Board while navigating pressure from governments, competitors, and the public. From AI safety concerns to misinformation and geopolitical competition, delegates will be challenged to balance innovation with responsibility and make critical decisions that shape the future of artificial intelligence.
Dear Delegates,
My name is Maurits Acosta, and I am thrilled to serve as your Director for the OpenAI Board of Directors at HMUN LXXIV! I was born in the Netherlands to Cuban parents and moved to Miami, Florida in 2015, which I proudly consider home. I am currently a sophomore at Harvard College studying Government with a secondary in Educational Studies, with a strong interest in the intersection of public policy, civic engagement, and democratic safeguarding.
On campus, I am deeply involved in the Harvard International Relations Council (IRC), where I serve as a Director of Affairs for Harvard’s Intercollegiate Model UN team. I also serve as Under-Secretary-General for Business for HNMUN 2027 and as Under-Secretary-General for Administration for HMUN Canada 2026. Additionally, I am Co-President of Harvard International Relations on Campus, the IRC’s outreach branch focused on expanding access to international relations education. Beyond Model UN, I am involved with Harvard Consulting on Business and the Environment and the Harvard Public Opinion Project. Outside of campus, I am the founder and chairman of Virtutem Populo, Miami’s largest student-led civic nonprofit organization.
My passion for international relations and governance has been shaped through years of Model UN experience, both in crisis and traditional committees. I have always been particularly interested in how emerging technologies challenge existing systems of power, accountability, and decision-making. This committee offers a unique opportunity to explore those questions in a dynamic and fast-paced setting, and I am excited to see how each of you approaches the complex and evolving role of artificial intelligence in global affairs.
Model United Nations is ultimately about collaboration, creativity, and thoughtful debate. Throughout the weekend, I will be looking for delegates who are willing to engage deeply with the material, work constructively with one another, and think critically about both the opportunities and risks presented by AI. The OpenAI Board of Directors will require you to balance innovation with responsibility, and I encourage you to embrace both the strategic and ethical dimensions of your decisions.
I am very much looking forward to meeting all of you and to an engaging and memorable committee experience. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Maurits Acosta
Director, Open AI Board of Directors
Harvard Model United Nations 2027