DOGE deploys custom chatbot to automate federal tasks

The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly deployed a custom chatbot to 1,500 federal workers in a bid to automate certain tasks previously done by humans.

The proprietary chatbot, dubbed GSAi, is tailored in a way that makes it safe for government use, according to WIRED. It is designed to support “general” jobs much like commercial generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.

The move comes as DOGE continues to cut federal employees under the leadership of Elon Musk.

Chatbot can draft emails, summarize text and write code

The chatbot has apparently been in development for several months, with DOGE first testing it in January through a pilot with 150 users within the General Services Administration (GSA), which manages government real estate and certain IT efforts. 

An internal memo about the product suggests employees can use the chatbot for drafting emails, creating talking points, summarizing text and writing code. It also warns employees not to type or paste federal non-public information such as work products, emails, photos, videos, audio and conversations that are meant to be pre-decisional or internal to GSA as well as personally identifiable information as inputs, WIRED claimed.

The GSA is one of a number of government agencies that has been impacted by DOGE-directed layoffs. Last month, the agency dismissed more than 1,000 employees, setting future goals to cut staff by 63 percent in its Public Building Service division. DOGE has also closed the GSA technology consulting unit, 18F, which had a staff of 90 to 100 technology researchers, website designers and product managers.

DOGE likely views the automation of certain processes as a step that helps justify the spate of firings while also boosting the productivity and efficiency of remaining government workers.

Some processes are ripe for automation

Process automation is a hot topic right now. In the ongoing pursuit of process excellence, modern businesses are increasingly turning to automation as they seek to benefit from the evolving capabilities of autonomous technology.

Some business processes are better suited to automation than others. The key to successful automation lies in identifying tasks that are time-consuming, repetitive and prone to error, as these typically benefit most from technology’s ability to enhance speed, consistency and data-driven accuracy. This allows businesses to focus on what truly requires human expertise – strategic decision-making, innovation and relationship building.”

However, while the potential for automation is vast, it is crucial for organizations to carefully evaluate their unique needs along with the challenges of automating specific processes. By doing so, they can achieve greater efficiency, reduce costs and enhance overall business performance.

Join us at All Access: Intelligent Automation 2025 to explore adopting systems that not only automate repetitive tasks but also adapt to complex, changing environments

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