Elon Musk’s DOGE team builds AI chatbot to scrutinize government spending

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is developing an AI chatbot for the US General Services Administration to analyze federal spending and contracts, raising significant concerns among IT and cybersecurity professionals.

The core initiative: DOGE is creating a custom AI chatbot for the GSA, which oversees federal office buildings and IT infrastructure, to analyze government contracts and procurement data.

• The project aims to provide insights into federal spending patterns and allocation
• Thomas Shedd, head of Technology Transformation Services, characterized the effort as a continuation of existing attempts to track government spending
• The initiative is part of a broader “AI-first strategy” following President Trump’s revocation of Biden-era AI safety executive orders

Current challenges and setbacks: Early implementation efforts have encountered significant obstacles, forcing DOGE to adjust its approach.

• DOGE has already paused the rollout of at least one generative AI tool
• Plans to implement an AI coding assistant called Cursor were suspended for further review
• The team has shifted to using Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot as an alternative solution
• The Department of Education has already begun feeding sensitive data into AI software

Security concerns: Cybersecurity experts express alarm over the use of AI technology to handle sensitive government data.

• AI systems are known to occasionally generate false information or “hallucinate” facts
• There are documented risks of AI systems potentially leaking sensitive data
• The rapid deployment approach raises questions about adequate security measures and data protection
• The initiative represents a departure from previous cautionary approaches to AI implementation in government

Policy context: Recent changes in federal AI policy have created an environment more conducive to rapid technological deployment.

• Trump administration revoked Biden’s executive order on “safe, secure, and trustworthy development and use of AI”
• The current approach mirrors Silicon Valley’s “move fast and break things” philosophy
• The shift represents a dramatic change from previous government technology implementation strategies

Looking ahead – Balancing innovation and risk: While DOGE’s initiative could potentially streamline government spending analysis, the rapid deployment of AI systems handling sensitive federal data presents substantial risks that may outweigh potential benefits.