Billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team is expanding the use of his AI chatbot, Grok, within the U.S. federal government to analyze data, according to sources familiar with the matter. This move raises potential conflicts of interest and risks exposure of sensitive information on millions of Americans.
The customized Grok chatbot is reportedly used to sift through government data, generate reports, and provide analysis. Despite lacking formal approval, DOGE staff have encouraged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials to adopt Grok, stirring concerns over privacy and legal compliance.
Experts warn that using Grok with sensitive government data could violate privacy laws and grant Musk’s xAI company an unfair advantage by accessing nonpublic federal contracting information. The arrangement has drawn criticism for possible self-dealing and the risk of government data leaking back to the private sector.
While DHS denies any pressure to use Grok, recent internal policies restrict commercial AI tools following misuse of sensitive data by staff. The expansion of AI use by DOGE coincides with efforts to integrate AI into federal operations, amid allegations that DOGE monitors employee communications for political loyalty, potentially violating civil service protections.
Ethics experts highlight the appearance of conflict of interest, especially if Musk, as a special government employee, influences decisions benefiting his AI ventures. The ongoing deployment of Grok underscores growing concerns over transparency, data security, and ethical governance as AI tools permeate federal agencies.
Source: Swifteradio.com
