According to Elon Musk, artificial intelligence could soon assume portions of governmental functions, whilst he actively shapes the future of American public administration. As head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the tech billionaire has begun transforming several agencies in recent months, including the General Services Administration (GSA). The Trump administration aims to reduce federal expenditure by one-third, leading to mass redundancies. By 4th February, 20,000 government employees had accepted voluntary severance packages, but the rate of dismissals could reach as high as 10%.
A central element in the reformation of the General Services Administration (GSA) is a new artificial intelligence-based system, GSAi, which, according to Musk, serves to rationalise governmental workflows. AI plays an increasingly significant role in federal decision-making, particularly in automating administrative tasks and reviewing contracts. Musk, however, has expressed concern that AI could possess excessive power if ideological biases are built into it and it is not adequately regulated. While supporters suggest that GSAi could make governmental operations faster and more efficient, critics warn that artificial intelligence raises ethical and legal questions, particularly regarding the transparency and accountability of federal decision-making.
Introducing artificial intelligence in government is not merely a technological innovation but a radical rethinking of the federal state's role. Although Musk and Trump cite the reduction of state expenditure, critics argue that the current transformation may lead to a decline in the standard of public services and legal uncertainty. Some experts warn that if AI-based systems fail to achieve the 99.999% reliability level expected of federal services, this could cause disruptions in key areas such as social security benefits or state health insurance programs such as Medicare.
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Alayna Treene, Tami Luhby
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