New AI-First Strategy at GSA, with Elon Musk Ally at the Helm
In a Monday morning meeting, Thomas Shedd, the recently appointed Technology Transformation Services director and Elon Musk ally, told General Services Administration workers that the agency’s new administrator is pursuing an “AI-first strategy,” sources tell WIRED.
Automating Government Tasks
Throughout the meeting, Shedd shared his vision for a GSA that operates like a “startup software company,” automating different internal tasks and centralizing data from across the federal government.
AI Coding Agents and Centralized Data Repository
Shedd provided details on a number of projects the agency will pursue over the coming weeks and months, including the development of “AI coding agents” that would be made available for all agencies. He also emphasized the need for a centralized data repository, although it wasn’t clear where this repository would be based or if these projects would comply with privacy laws.
Risks and Concerns
A cybersecurity expert who was granted anonymity due to concerns of retaliation told WIRED that automating the government isn’t the same as automating other things, like self-driving cars. “People, especially people who aren’t experts in the subject domain, coming into projects often think ‘this is dumb’ and then find out how hard the thing really is.”
Uncertainty and Confusion Among GSA Staffers
The Monday meeting comes days after WIRED reported that many of Musk’s associates have migrated to jobs at the highest levels of the GSA and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Prior to joining TTS, which is housed within the GSA, Shedd was a software engineer at Tesla, one of Musk’s companies. The transition has caused mass confusion amongst GSA staffers who have been thrown into surprise one-on-one meetings, forced to present their code—often to young engineers who did not identify themselves—and left wondering what the future of the agency’s tech task force will look like.
Questions Left Unanswered
Employees, sources say, also asked questions about the young engineers, who had previously not been identifying themselves in meetings. Shedd said that one of them felt comfortable enough to introduce himself in meetings on Monday, sources say, though Shedd added that he was nervous about their names being publicly revealed and their lives upended.
Shedd was unable to answer many staff questions about the deferred resignations, the return to office mandate, or if the agency’s staff would face substantial cuts, according to sources. At one point, Shedd indicated that workforce cuts were likely for TTS, but declined to give more details.
Conclusion
The new AI-first strategy at GSA, led by Thomas Shedd and Elon Musk ally, has raised concerns among cybersecurity experts and GSA staffers. The agency’s plans to automate internal tasks and centralize data from across the federal government may have significant implications for the government’s workforce and operations. As the agency moves forward with these plans, it remains to be seen how they will be implemented and what the consequences will be for GSA staff and the broader government.
FAQs
Q: What is the AI-first strategy at GSA?
A: The AI-first strategy at GSA involves automating internal tasks and centralizing data from across the federal government, with a focus on developing “AI coding agents” and a centralized data repository.
Q: Who is Thomas Shedd?
A: Thomas Shedd is the recently appointed Technology Transformation Services director and Elon Musk ally. Prior to joining TTS, he was a software engineer at Tesla, one of Musk’s companies.
Q: What are the concerns about the AI-first strategy?
A: Cybersecurity experts have raised concerns that automating the government isn’t the same as automating other things, and that the lack of expertise in the subject domain could lead to difficulties in implementing these plans.
Q: Will GSA staff face substantial cuts?
A: According to sources, Shedd indicated that workforce cuts were likely for TTS, but declined to give more details.
