AI

Elon Musk’s AI Government: A Repeat of His Assistant’s Fate?

Elon Musk’s AI Government: A Repeat of His Assistant’s Fate?

Elon Musk is once again shaking things up—this time by firing tens of thousands of government workers and replacing many with AI. Through his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk is using AI to evaluate employees and determine who stays or goes.

But is this just another version of his infamous "fire first, learn later" strategy—the same one he used on his longtime assistant, Mary Beth Brown? Experts warn this could be a dangerous experiment with serious consequences.

Let’s dive into the method behind Musk’s madness.

Musk’s Strategy: Fire First, Learn Later

Musk’s approach isn’t just about AI replacing workers—it’s about seeing what happens without them.

📌 Government employees must now submit weekly reports detailing their accomplishments.
📌 AI analyzes these reports and helps decide who stays and who gets fired.
📌 If key employees are fired, the team will realize their importance and rehire them.

This strategy isn’t new for Musk. He has used the same approach before—notably with his long-time personal assistant, Mary Beth Brown.

person holding string lights on opened book
Photo by Nong / Unsplash

The Story of Elon Musk’s Personal Assistant: A Brutal Test

Mary Beth Brown (MBB) was Elon Musk’s right-hand person for over 12 years, managing his schedule, meetings, and high-level operations for SpaceX and Tesla.

However, when she asked for a raise, Musk didn’t immediately approve it. Instead, he told her to take a two-week break, during which he took over her responsibilities himself.

When she returned, Musk decided she was no longer essential and let her go. Some reports claim he offered her another position, but she ultimately left the company.

Musk later denied the story, but multiple sources—including Ashlee Vance’s biography, Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future—confirm that Brown did leave Tesla around that time.

I believe Musk is doing the same thing now—firing government workers, observing the consequences, and rehiring only those who prove essential. It’s a brutal but fast approach to streamlining operations.

The Risks: Why Experts Say This Could Go Wrong

While Musk’s fire-and-learn strategy may work in business, government is a different beast. Experts warn of serious risks:

🚨 Lack of transparency – No one knows how AI is making decisions about firings.
⚖️ Bias and discrimination – AI can reinforce past biases, leading to unfair terminations.
💾 Flawed AI can make costly mistakes – In Michigan, AI wrongfully accused thousands of fraud, leading to bankruptcies and arrests.

Government jobs aren’t easily replaceable—many require deep expertise and institutional knowledge that AI can’t replicate.

USA flag
Photo by Joshua Hoehne / Unsplash

Can AI Actually Run a Government?

One major flaw in Musk’s plan is that government work is complex and diverse.

My Take: AI Can Help, But Not Replace Humans

I agree that AI isn’t ready to run the government, but I do think it can be a powerful tool for processing documents and workflows.

✅ AI can speed up paperwork and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies.
❌ AI should not make high-stakes decisions about people’s jobs or policies.

Musk’s strategy is fast and ruthless, but the real question is whether efficiency comes at too high a cost.

Final Thoughts: Smart Reform or Reckless Experiment?

Musk’s AI-driven government plan is one of the biggest experiments in automation we’ve seen.

📉 If done poorly: AI could cause mass firings, confusion, and irreversible mistakes.
🚀 If done right: AI could streamline bureaucracy, reduce costs, and improve efficiency.

💬 What do you think? Is Musk’s approach brilliant or reckless? Should AI have a bigger role in government? Let’s discuss on X(Former Twitter)

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