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Some leaders in the Trump administration are adopting an “AI-first strategy,” as it seeks to both remove “burdensome requirements” for developers and “accelerate” artificial intelligence’s (AI) use within the federal government. Staff members associated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are reportedly using AI to analyze agency operations, surveil communications, and probe an agency’s programs to aid Elon Musk’s goal of cutting $1 trillion from the federal budget. DOGE operatives have gained extraordinary access to government databases and downloaded some of the material to unauthorized file servers throughout this process. In addition, DOGE and Musk have led efforts to consolidate agencies’ data, further raising concern and risks in terms of privacy, security, and algorithm development. 

In this episode of the TechTank Podcast, co-host Darrell West speaks with Allison Stanger, Distinguished Endowed Professor at Middlebury College, about how DOGE is using AI in the federal government and the risks of its extensive access to government information. 

Listen to the episode and subscribe to the TechTank Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or Acast.


Dr. Nicol Turner Lee is a senior fellow in Governance Studies, the director of the Center for Technology Innovation, and serves as Co-Editor-In-Chief of TechTank. Dr. Turner Lee researches public policy designed to enable equitable access to technology across the U.S. and to harness its power to create change in communities across the world. Her work also explores global and domestic broadband deployment and internet governance issues. She is an expert on the intersection of race, wealth, and technology within the context of civic engagement, criminal justice, and economic development.
Darrell M. West is vice president and director of Governance Studies and holds the Douglas Dillon Chair. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of TechTank. His current research focuses on artificial intelligence, robotics, and the future of work. West is also director of the John Hazen White Manufacturing Initiative.
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