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Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok Expands in U.S. Federal Agencies Amid Privacy Concerns

Elon Musk’s government team is pushing use of his AI chatbot Grok within federal agencies — sparking privacy and ethics alarms over potential conflict-of-interest and sensitive data risks.
2025-05-23
Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok Expands in U.S. Federal Agencies Amid Privacy Concerns

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team is reportedly expanding use of his AI chatbot, Grok, in U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), raising serious privacy, legal, and ethical concerns.

Sources say DOGE staff encouraged DHS officials to use Grok for data analysis and reporting—even though the AI tool hasn’t been officially approved by the agency. If Grok processes sensitive or classified federal data, experts warn this could violate strict privacy laws designed to protect millions of Americans' information.

The AI tool was developed by Musk’s xAI, launched in 2023 on his social media platform X. Critics say the arrangement risks giving Musk’s private company unfair access to valuable nonpublic government data, potentially allowing xAI to train Grok with federal information and gain a competitive edge over other AI providers.

Ethics experts warn that if Musk, who serves as a special government employee on DOGE, is involved in pushing Grok’s use, it could violate conflict-of-interest laws barring officials from profiting from their government work. Even if Musk is not directly involved, the appearance of self-dealing raises red flags.

DOGE has also overseen the firing of thousands of federal workers and gained control of sensitive government databases amid efforts to combat alleged waste and fraud. Some reports suggest attempts to use AI tools to monitor federal employees’ loyalty to Trump’s political agenda—practices that may violate civil service protections.

Despite multiple requests, neither Musk nor xAI responded to inquiries. A DHS spokesperson denied DOGE pressured employees to use Grok and emphasized the team’s mission to fight waste and abuse.

The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over the growing role of AI in government operations, data privacy, and the potential conflicts arising from private tech companies’ involvement in federal functions.