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Ex-Twitter AI Ethics Lead Warns of Musk’s Devastating Impact on Federal Government
Rumman Chowdhury, former director of Twitter’s machine ethics team, spoke out at SXSW 2025, expressing deep concerns over Elon Musk’s influence on the US federal government. Chowdhury, a data scientist and nonprofit founder, condemned Musk’s approach to governance, stating that his chaotic management style has dire consequences for the country.
Musk’s impact on the federal government is already apparent in the drastic cuts to staffing levels at numerous agencies. Chowdhury emphasized that this mass exodus of skilled professionals will have long-term, irreparable damage to the institutions responsible for ensuring national security and protecting critical infrastructure. “The lights have to be kept on because Elon Musk is not the one keeping the lights on, even though he would like you to believe that,” she warned.
Moreover, Chowdhury criticized Musk’s handling of truth and fact-checking within his social media platform, X. The AI ethics expert pointed out that Musk has repeatedly made false claims about various issues, including federal spending, Ukrainian aggression, and the role of government agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Furthermore, she noted that Musk has even questioned X’s own fact-checking system, Community Notes, after it corrected posts containing misinformation.
Chowdhury expressed dismay at Musk’s willingness to spread disinformation and undermine trust in institutions. She contrasted his actions with those of former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, stating that the latter did not engage in such flagrant behavior. In her words, “I don’t think [Dorsey] acted anywhere near the way Elon Musk has.”
