Elon Musk’s DOGE Develops AI Chatbot to Modernize US Government

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is advancing the creation of “GSAi,” a bespoke generative AI chatbot for the US General Services Administration (GSA). This initiative aligns with President Donald Trump’s AI-first strategy to update federal operations. The chatbot aims to enhance the productivity of the GSA’s approximately 12,000 employees, who oversee federal office buildings, contracts, and IT infrastructure. Additionally, DOGE plans to utilize GSAi and other AI tools to analyze extensive contract and procurement data.

Thomas Shedd, a former Tesla employee now leading the GSA’s Technology Transformation Services, hinted at the project in a recent meeting. He emphasized the importance of developing an internal system swiftly to centralize contracts and facilitate comprehensive spending analysis. Initially, the GSA considered implementing Google’s Gemini chatbot but opted to develop an in-house solution to meet DOGE’s specific data requirements.

This move reflects a broader push by the Trump administration to remove obstacles hindering the United States’ pursuit of global AI leadership. While some supporters applaud these efforts, critics, including federal employees, labor unions, and civil society groups, express concerns about potential constitutional issues and the rapid pace of these changes. The administration’s aggressive adoption of AI tools signifies a significant shift in federal operations, aiming to streamline processes and reduce costs.

Source: Wired, https://www.wired.com/story/doge-chatbot-ai-first-agenda/