Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is making waves once again, this time with his ambitious—and highly controversial—push for an AI-run government. Musk has already taken drastic steps to restructure the U.S. federal workforce, firing tens of thousands of government employees through his newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). His plan? To replace many of these jobs with artificial intelligence, a move that experts say could have dangerous and unpredictable consequences.

AI to Replace Government Jobs? Here’s What We Know

Reports suggest that the remaining federal employees are required to submit weekly emails to DOGE, listing five bullet points detailing their accomplishments. With hundreds of thousands of such emails flooding the department, Musk is relying on AI-powered decision-making to analyze responses and determine which employees should be retained. Additionally, his proposal includes replacing many of these workers with AI-driven automation.

While the specifics of these AI systems remain unknown, lawmakers—especially Democrats in Congress—are demanding transparency. Experts argue that deploying AI without rigorous testing and oversight could lead to bias, mass unemployment, and system failures in key government functions.

Experts Sound the Alarm on AI Government Takeover

Leading AI and policy experts have voiced serious concerns about Musk’s vision for an AI-driven federal workforce. The integration of AI in governance is still largely experimental, and experts caution that hasty deployment without proper supervision could have catastrophic consequences.

Cary Coglianese, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, warns that using AI to determine who gets fired from government positions is highly problematic. “AI tools need to be carefully designed, tested, and validated before they are deployed in decision-making roles. It’s unclear whether that’s happening here,” he said.

Shobita Parthasarathy, a professor of public policy at the University of Michigan, was even more direct: “It’s a very bad idea.” She emphasized that AI lacks transparency, accountability, and human judgment, making it unsuitable for decisions affecting people’s livelihoods.

AI Government: A History of Failures

Musk’s AI-run government experiment isn’t the first time AI has been used in governance—and the results haven’t always been positive.

• Michigan’s unemployment fraud disaster: AI wrongly flagged thousands of residents for fraud, leading to false accusations, bankruptcies, and legal penalties. The state later admitted the system was flawed and paid $21 million in refunds.
• UK and Netherlands welfare failures: AI-driven welfare systems in these countries wrongly denied benefits to thousands of citizens due to faulty algorithms.
• Predictive policing bias: AI used in law enforcement has led to racial profiling and over-policing of marginalized communities.

Hilke Schellmann, an AI expert at New York University, warns that the U.S. government’s AI adoption lacks critical safeguards, saying, “There could be a lot of harms that go undetected.”

The U.S. Government’s AI Crackdown—But Is It Enough?

Despite mounting concerns, the U.S. government is actively expanding its use of AI. The State Department is reportedly using AI to scan social media accounts of foreign nationals, potentially revoking visas based on flagged content. However, the government has not provided details on how these AI systems operate or how they avoid false positives and discrimination.

The Biden administration previously issued an executive order on AI governance, emphasizing transparency and accountability. However, this order was rescinded by the Trump administration in January, raising fears that AI will now be deployed without necessary oversight.

The Future of AI Government—A Reckless Gamble or a Tech Revolution?

AI has the potential to revolutionize government efficiency, automating mundane tasks and streamlining bureaucracy. However, experts warn that reckless AI adoption—especially without proper safeguards—could result in job losses, systemic discrimination, and governance failures.

As Musk pushes forward with his AI-run government vision, the real question is: Will AI enhance governance, or will it create chaos?