But 'replacing human workers with AI on a large scale is a risky gamble,' says expert
Billionaire Elon Musk has said that artificial intelligence should replace the inefficient functions of the US government ahead of the conclusion of his role with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), according to reports.
Musk reportedly made the remarks in a closed-door discussion with financier Michael Milken during the Milken Institute Global Conference, Bloomberg reported.
The report, which cited an attendee of the conference, said Musk described the US government as inefficient.
He also said that AI should replace some inefficient functions that are being carried out by US public sector employees.
Musk's sentiments come in the wake of the widespread introduction of AI in organisations in the private sector, which in some cases has led to layoffs among employees.
Jason Wingard, an expert on leadership development and the future of work, previously noted that integrating AI into government operations is a "bold step" in modernising public services.
"However, replacing human workers with AI on a large scale is a risky gamble that overlooks the complexities of human-led governance," Wingard said in an insight for Forbes.
He noted that if AI-driven layoffs in the government become the norm, the private sector will likely follow.
"While technological advancements are inevitable, policymakers and business leaders must balance progress with human impact. AI should serve as a tool for augmentation—not total replacement," Wingard said.
Musk's remarks on the government also come as he nears the end of his term with DOGE, which is an initiative by the Trump administration aimed at cutting federal spending by reducing the workforce.
The initiative has been met with massive backlash from federal workers.
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) recently said it led a coalition of nationwide labour organisations, non-profit groups, and local cities and counties in California, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and Washington in suing the Trump administration for its "unlawful government reorganisation and massive reduction in force."
The coalition is asking the court to stop the implementation of Trump's DOGE Workforce Optimisation Initiative, claiming that it violates the Constitution's fundamental separation of powers principles.
"The President does not possess authority to reorganise, downsize, or otherwise transform the agencies of the federal government, unless and until Congress authorises such action," the coalition said in a statement.
"Since the founding of the nation, federal courts have recognised that the federal agencies are not created by the President."
