Elon Musk appears to be planning to implement artificial intelligence in the U. S. government, a concept met with skepticism from experts who deem it a “bad idea. ” Through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk has already laid off numerous federal employees and now requires remaining workers to submit weekly emails detailing their accomplishments. Musk intends to use AI to process these emails and to potentially replace government employees, although the specifics of these AI systems remain unclear. Experts emphasize the dangers of deploying AI without thorough testing and validation. Cary Coglianese, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, expresses concerns about AI's ability to make employment decisions, citing risks of bias and mistakes. Similarly, Shobita Parthasarathy from the University of Michigan questions the reliability of AI in such crucial roles, highlighting the unknowns regarding training data and algorithms. Despite these warnings, the Trump administration, with Musk's influence, is pursuing AI initiatives, such as employing it to analyze social media accounts of foreign nationals for potential ties to Hamas.

Concerns over undetected harms from AI usage are prominent, as seen in past instances where flawed AI led to wrongful welfare benefit denials in the Netherlands and the UK, and unemployment fraud accusations in Michigan, ultimately resulting in penalties and financial ruin for innocent individuals. Experts argue that AI is often poorly understood by officials implementing it, leading to significant risks, especially for marginalized communities interacting with government services. Moreover, the unique and specialized nature of many government roles makes replacing workers with AI particularly challenging. While AI can assist in automating repetitive tasks, experts believe it cannot fully replace the nuanced judgment of human workers. An executive order by the Biden administration aimed at responsible AI use was rescinded by Trump, potentially hindering accountability in AI deployment. Although responsible AI development could offer benefits, experts insist that careful implementation and public input are crucial to avoid pitfalls associated with rushing into AI use in government.