Exclusive: Elon Musk staffer created a DOGE AI assistant for making government “less dumb” – TechCrunch

Team ZYT Web3 / 5 days
June 28, 2025
0
4 min read

Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
Latest
AI
Amazon
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Google
Government & Policy
Hardware
Instagram
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
Social
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Newsletters
Podcasts
Videos
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
A senior Elon Musk staffer has created a custom AI chatbot that purports to help the Department of Government Efficiency eliminate government waste and is powered by Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, TechCrunch has learned.
The chatbot, which was publicly accessible until Tuesday, was hosted on a DOGE-named subdomain on the website of Christopher Stanley, who works as the head of security engineering at SpaceX, as well as at the White House. Soon after publication, the chatbot appeared to drop offline.
It’s not clear if the chatbot is experimental or has been used by DOGE as part of its unprecedented cost-cutting efforts across the U.S. government, which have raised legal and privacy concerns.
Stanley and a White House spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The chatbot calls itself the “Department of Government Efficiency AI Assistant” and says it is powered by xAI’s Grok-2. The chatbot told TechCrunch it is here to “assist government personnel in identifying waste and improving efficiency.”
The chatbot appears to be a customized large language model trained on certain key DOGE goals — especially five “guiding principles,” which include making government requirements “less dumb” and deleting “unnecessary parts or processes.”
For example, when TechCrunch asked the chatbot what DOGE should do about USAID, a federal agency effectively shuttered by DOGE’s reforms, it applied the five guiding principles and recommended the elimination of any “bureaucratic layers” between decision makers and USAID fund recipients.
The chatbot reverts to these five principles on a wide array of topics. When TechCrunch asked the chatbot which 20th-century political leaders DOGE should emulate, it applied the guiding principles and responded with two people: former U.K. prime minister Margaret Thatcher and former Singaporean prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, saying they provide “excellent models for DOGE” by focusing on “efficiency, simplification, and the use of technology.”
The chatbot suffers from some issues, including one that’s common to all large language models: hallucination. When TechCrunch asked the chatbot for names of people who work at DOGE, it initially refused but later gave generic names and made-up positions. The chatbot also sometimes gives odd advice, like recommending that USAID use drones, wearables, and other internet-connected devices to improve its efficiency.
DOGE has embraced AI as part of its efforts to modernize the U.S. government, according to reports that DOGE is reportedly working on a separate AI chatbot for the General Services Administration, the powerful agency that oversees U.S. procurement, per Wired.
It’s also not clear if the chatbot’s use of xAI presents a conflict of interest for Musk. Since LLMs typically charge users through API usage, government workers using an xAI-powered chatbot could directly increase xAI’s revenue. A representative for xAI could not be reached.
Updated to note that the chatbot is no longer publicly accessible.
Topics
Senior Reporter
Security Editor
From seed to Series C and beyond — founders and VCs of all stages are heading to Boston. Be part of the conversation. Save up to $425 now and tap into powerful takeaways, peer insights, and game-changing connections.
Google launches Doppl, a new app that lets you visualize how an outfit might look on you