Elon Musk, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla, is leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in efforts to reduce the federal budget deficit by $1 trillion (about 1.44 quadrillion won), and it is reported that they are not only reviewing federal government programs and expenditures with artificial intelligence (AI) but are also determining which personnel to lay off, raising controversy. There are concerns that inputting federal government-related data into AI could compromise security, and voices have been raised that layoffs could be implemented disproportionately depending on the program.
According to major foreign media such as The Washington Post (WP) and CNN, DOGE employees have utilized Microsoft's (MS) cloud computing service Azure to input data related to the Ministry of Education into AI software to analyze the Ministry of Education's programs and expenditures. Additionally, DOGE is developing GSAi, a customized AI chatbot for the U.S. General Services Administration. It plans to use this to analyze government contract and procurement data. Furthermore, DOGE is also utilizing AI to analyze emails sent by federal employees summarizing their work performance and determining positions that are no longer needed. Additionally, it appears that DOGE will use modified software developed by the Ministry of National Defense to automatically rank positions subject to reduction in defense.
This rapid move to reduce the federal government reflects Musk's typical work style. When he acquired Twitter two years ago, he also employed a "fire first, fix later" approach, resulting in thousands of Twitter employees losing their jobs.
Above all, there is significant concern about the use of AI in reducing the federal government. Private corporations and U.S. government departments have been hesitant to process sensitive information through AI due to the potential risks of AI technology. Inputting sensitive data into AI software poses a high risk of exposure to cyberattacks or leaks. Additionally, AI can create errors, such as generating incorrect information when summarizing data.
WP pointed out that "the way DOGE uses AI within the Ministry of Education is significantly different from the technology policy of the Biden administration, which recommended using AI only after developing tests and guidelines to ensure that federal agencies do not violate privacy and cybersecurity."