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US midterms: Polls show Democrats ahead in battle for Congress

Democrats lead Republicans in national polling ahead of Tuesday's United States midterm elections, with new surveys showing the party gaining ground in several closely contested Senate races as voters express dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's handling of the economy. With all 435 House of Representatives seats and 35 Senate seats on the ballot, the elections will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress for the remaining two years of Trump's second term. A RealClearPolling average of surveys conducted through October 30 shows Democrats leading Republicans 52% to 43.1% on the generic congressional ballot, an 8.9-percentage-point advantage. An NBC News survey conducted October 28-30 found Democrats ahead 52% to 45%, while an Emerson College poll conducted October 24-26 put the gap at 10 points. The generic ballot measures nationwide preferences for congressional candidates rather than support in individual districts, meaning a nati...
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Musk’s Grok AI use in US govt sparks privacy, ethics concerns

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, is reportedly being used across parts of the US federal government, raising alarm over potential privacy breaches and ethical conflicts. According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is deploying a customised version of Grok to analyse government data and produce internal reports. The initiative, led by Musk’s AI company xAI, allegedly bypasses standard procurement procedures and lacks full agency authorisation. Concerns escalated after reports emerged that DOGE staff encouraged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adopt Grok, despite the tool not being formally approved for agency use. While DHS denies being pressured, critics argue that such actions could violate federal privacy and security regulations. @DrewAswell @MorePerfectUS The claim of being "the most transparent administration" contrasts with concerns about DOGE's use of Grok AI. Reports suggest limited transparency, with unclear details on how Grok analyzes federal data, raising privacy and oversight issues. Lawmakers… — Grok (@grok) May 24, 2025 Grok, developed by Musk’s xAI and launched via his social platform X, is designed to generate responses based on user queries. Experts warn that if it is processing sensitive or personal information from government databases, it may breach long-standing federal laws, including the Privacy Act of 1974. That law was created to protect citizens from unauthorised data sharing and surveillance, setting strict guidelines for how personal data may be accessed and used. “If Grok is being trained or refined using federal data, even indirectly, it could represent a significant privacy violation,” said a technology law expert. There are also rising concerns about conflicts of interest. As Musk is a special government employee while leading private firms that could benefit from inside knowledge or favourable contracting terms, ethics specialists warn this dual role may blur boundaries. The use of Grok could offer xAI a competitive edge in the rapidly growing AI procurement market, where contracts for AI services surged by 150% between 2022 and 2023. Unlike other AI firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic, which have entered into formal partnerships with the US government through the AI Safety Institute, xAI’s reported approach appears to bypass key oversight protocols. The White House, xAI, and Elon Musk declined to comment. A DHS spokesperson stated, “DOGE hasn’t pushed any employees to use any particular tools or products. DOGE is here to find and fight waste, fraud and abuse.” As Musk expands Grok’s reach into federal agencies, questions continue to mount about transparency, security, and the future of ethical AI use in public institutions.

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