AI Shall Replace Inefficient Government Workers: Elon Musk At Milken Conference

Elon Musk described the US government as inefficient and proposed that AI should be used to replace functions currently performed by some public workers, according to a person who attended the closed-door session at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Bloomberg reported.

Musk’s remarks come as he prepares to step down from leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a flagship Trump administration initiative focused on reducing the federal workforce, cutting costs and eliminating agencies such as the US Agency for International Development. Musk, the world’s richest individual, has indicated in recent weeks that his role with DOGE is nearing completion.

As per the source, Musk discussed his brain-implant company Neuralink and recent progress at SpaceX during a wide-ranging conversation with billionaire Michael Milken on Sunday.

Musk Dodges DOGE

Elon Musk’s tenure with DOGE will conclude in May. He has hinted at leaving the Department of Government Efficiency, but his involvement appears to have come at a cost. According to the Bloomberg Billionaire Index, Musk’s personal wealth has plummeted by 25% since 17 January, totalling $113 billion.

Tesla, his premium electric-vehicle company, saw its stock price collapse by more than 40% on the Nasdaq. While the company has recovered some losses, Tesla shares remain in the red.

Tesla Struggles

Tesla’s earnings per share (EPS) fell to 27 cents, below the expected 39 cents. Revenue dropped by more than 9% to $19.34 billion, down from $21.3 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

The automaker is already facing stiff competition from Chinese rival BYD, whose share price has risen by more than 30% this year alone. The Chinese EV manufacturer has surpassed Tesla as the top global seller, outperforming it in both volume and revenue.

Furthermore, Jeff Bezos-backed Amazon is entering the EV market by supporting an electric-vehicle start-up named Slate Auto, which claims to provide electric trucks at a reasonable cost.