🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
A staffer working at Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has reportedly created a chatbot to find ways to cut down on waste in the federal government.
The AI, which was stored on a publicly accessible website managed by SpaceX engineer Christopher Stanley, said that it was designed to "make requirements less dumb" and to remove "unnecessary parts or processes."
It is not clear whether the AI is experimental or has been used by DOGE.
Newsweek contacted Elon Musk and Christopher Stanley via email for comment on this story.
Why It Matters
DOGE, headed by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been tasked by President Donald Trump with making drastic cuts to federal spending and waste, and a new government AI system could play into that agenda. The department has faced criticism and legal challenges over mass layoffs and the dismantling of federal agencies.
What to Know
The chatbot was hosted on a subdomain named after Dogecoin (DOGE) on the personal website of Christopher Stanley, who serves as the head of security engineering at SpaceX and holds a position at the White House.
The extent to which the chatbot has been used by DOGE in its extensive cost-cutting measures remains unclear.
Identifying itself as the "Department of Government Efficiency AI Assistant," the chatbot claims to operate on xAI's Grok-2 platform. It states its mission is to "assist government personnel in identifying waste and improving efficiency."
The AI appears to be built around five "core DOGE principles," asking users if they want to address issues "using our first principle approach."
When tested by technology outlet TechCrunch, the bot displayed several errors seen in other AI models, sometimes called "hallucinations," which means producing inaccurate or fabricated information.
When asked to name DOGE employees, it initially declined but later provided generic and fictitious names and positions. The bot also suggested that USAID adopt drones and wearable technology to boost efficiency.
What People Are Saying
Elon Musk told reporters on Tuesday during a press conference in the Oval Office: "At a high level, you say what is the goal of DOGE, and I think a significant part of the presidency is to restore democracy. If there's not a good feedback loop from the people to the government, and if you have rule of the bureaucrat, if the bureaucracy is in charge, then what meaning does democracy actually have?"
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this month: "DOGE: BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE BEING FOUND. CAMPAIGN PROMISE. IMPORTANT FOR AMERICA!!!"
What Happens Next
DOGE is set to continue its efforts to make mass cuts across the federal government. Musk has said he could cut "at least $2 trillion" from government spending by eradicating "waste."
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About the writer
Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. He writes about U.S. politics and international news, ... Read more