Elon Musk criticized the US government’s inefficiency and called for artificial intelligence to replace public sector jobs during a closed-door session at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Bloomberg reported, citing a person who was present at the event.

Speaking with financier Michael Milken in a wide-ranging discussion on Sunday, Musk suggested that certain roles within the public sector could be handled more effectively by AI systems. His remarks align with his work on the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a Trump administration initiative aimed at shrinking the federal workforce, slashing costs, and dismantling agencies including the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who was appointed to lead DOGE early in the Trump presidency, stated recently that his work on the project is nearly complete. According to the attendee, Musk said the time has come to apply technology to outdated government structures, arguing that “bureaucracy kills innovation.”

In March, a record number of US civil servants began seeking new jobs following mass layoffs by DOGE, with job applications from affected departments rising 60 percentage points in February compared to January, when Trump took office, according to Indeed data cited by NBC News.

Overall civil servant job postings rose nearly 12 points, amid a difficult job market for highly educated government workers. Established in November 2024 to cut regulations and spending, DOGE has aggressively dismissed tens of thousands of federal employees, prompting legal challenges and court injunctions.

A federal judge at the time had ordered DOGE to release internal documents, citing its secrecy and unprecedented authority, while on March 7, Elon Musk, despite his public endorsement of DOGE’s mission, denied responsibility for the layoffs in a private meeting with lawmakers.

Recent developments at Neuralink, SpaceX

In addition to his comments on AI job replacement, Musk spoke about recent developments at Neuralink, his brain implant startup, and ongoing missions at SpaceX. While details of those discussions remain limited, the conversation reportedly touched on Neuralink’s latest clinical trials and SpaceX’s Starship ambitions.

As of May 2025, Neuralink has successfully implanted its brain-computer interface in three human patients as reported by the New York Post. The third recipient, Brad Smith, a paralyzed man with ALS, is the first non-verbal individual to use the device, enabling him to type and control a computer cursor with his thoughts, with the assistance of AI. 

We've received Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA to help restore communication for individuals with severe speech impairment. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/ou5hQoUtvp

— Neuralink (@neuralink) May 1, 2025

According to Reuters, as of last March, SpaceX announced that Starlink, the company's satellite internet service, is now available in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the government's decision to grant a license after previously banning it due to security concerns.

Amid DOGE wind-down, Musk promises to focus more on Tesla

Musk’s appearance comes at a time of growing pressure from Tesla shareholders and analysts, who have voiced concern over his divided attention across multiple ventures. Tesla is facing a slowdown in sales, and its stock has dipped as investors question Musk’s ability to steer the company through heightened competition in the electric vehicle market.

On a recent earnings call, Musk acknowledged these concerns and pledged to refocus on Tesla beginning in May, promising to be “more present” at the company.

Now in its 28th year, the Milken Institute Global Conference is a premier gathering of financial executives, policymakers, and public figures. Held in Beverly Hills, the conference explores the intersection of business and global challenges. This year’s sessions opened Monday with a speech from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the state of global capital markets.