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.
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A federal judge in New York has ruled that the Trump administration’s cancellation of more than 140 humanities grants, worth over $100 million, was unconstitutional. The case was brought by the nonprofit Authors Guild and several individual recipients of grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
In the filing, US District Judge Colleen McMahon highlighted how the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) used OpenAI’s ChatGPT in parts of its decision-making process.
Justin Fox, a former staffer at DOGE, testified that his team used the AI tool to “pull out anything to do with DEI” and to “[h]ighlight why [a] grant may relate to DEI.” According to the filing, ChatGPT was directed to analyze a spreadsheet filled with grant descriptions and was prompted: “Does the following relate at all to DEI? Respond factually in less than 120 characters.”
However, according to the filing, DOGE’s team failed to provide ChatGPT with a definition of “DEI.” Fox also testified that he was unsure of ChatGPT’s understanding of the term, and the chatbot was not directed to factor in “the purpose, methodology, or scholarly substance of a project.”
Another project that had its grant funding terminated, called “How the City Became Plastic,” which focused on how the plastic industry lobbied city officials, was flagged as DEI-related despite focusing on industrial policy and microplastics filtering into the water supply.
“The record reflects that these ChatGPT determinations were generated without any additional context beyond the cursory spreadsheet descriptions themselves,” read the filing.
The judge also ruled that, due to the “hallucinatory propensities” of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, it would “hardly be surprising” if ChatGPT inferred that DOGE officials supplied rationales “simply in order to satisfy the user’s perceived demand.”
“The utter lack of reasoning behind so many of its ‘rationales’ certainly suggest[s] as much,” read the filing.
ChatGPT usage could continue to crop up in parts of government administration, though perhaps not in such a direct way. As of March 2026, Senate aides have been allowed to use AI chatbots like Google Gemini, ChatGPT, or Microsoft Copilot to help with “routine work,” like summarizing information.
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I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.
I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.
I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
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