AI in government raises new questions over ethics and access

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok is being deployed by his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team to analyse sensitive US federal data, despite lacking full authorisation. Sources claim it’s already being used within agencies like Homeland Security, raising serious concerns over data privacy, compliance, and potential conflicts of interest. Experts warn this could give Musk’s xAI an unfair commercial advantage, with government-grade data potentially training a private AI system.

Even more alarming is the blurred lines between private gain and public service could reshape how federal contracts are won and how trusted AI providers are vetted. With accusations of political surveillance and potential breaches of civil service protections, this case underscores why robust procurement policies, data governance, and vendor oversight must evolve quickly in the face of generative AI’s rise.

Read the full article to understand the procurement risks and regulatory questions emerging from Grok’s federal rollout.