According to the Washington Post, billionaire Elon Musk and his staff at the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) are utilizing artificial intelligence technology to analyze sensitive government data to determine which expenditures need to be cut. This initiative involves projects and financial expenditures from the Department of Education, and some staff members are as young as their teens.
Image source note: The image was generated by AI, provided by the image licensing service Midjourney.
The specific AI tools used are not clearly defined, but according to reports, the software is accessed through Microsoft's Azure cloud computing services. The data reviewed by the AI system includes personal information of grant managers and internal financial data. Nevertheless, the new Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications at the Department of Education, Madi Biedermann, stated that all of this is legal, and the staff's focus is on improving the department's cost-effectiveness and accountability to taxpayers.
However, many are concerned that allowing very young DOGE employees to access sensitive data could pose security risks. The previous Biden administration had set a series of safety tests and guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence, yet DOGE seems to be ignoring these warnings. Several large institutions, including some banks and Amazon, have prohibited employees from using large language models to avoid the risk of data breaches.
Experts have also raised numerous concerns regarding the safety of AI models. Alondra Nelson, who served as an AI policy advisor during the Biden administration, stated, "Do we want these tools to be used in government and society without any safety measures?" She mentioned that the public is filled with distrust regarding the use of AI in American society.
Furthermore, sources have revealed that the DOGE team also plans to use AI to cut multiple government programs, including Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. An anonymous employee from the Department of Education stated that DOGE staff are rapidly acquiring information and have already accessed millions of personal data from individuals receiving federal student loans. The employee added, "They have a script: to acquire data, and once they are in, it’s all over."
Key points:
📰 Musk's team is using AI to analyze sensitive data from the Department of Education to cut costs.
⚠️ The use of AI raises security concerns and public distrust.
💼 DOGE plans to use AI to cut multiple government programs, including diversity and inclusion initiatives.
