GSA employees demand answers, criticize AI tool presentation

During a recent all-hands meeting at the General Services Administration (GSA), employees expressed their frustrations about the agency’s direction under acting administrator Stephen Ehikian. Many workers used the meeting’s livestream chat to voice their concerns, particularly about recent job cuts. Some employees challenged Ehikian's claim that his door is always open, pointing out they were not allowed to visit his office. One worker highlighted the need for urgent answers regarding job security, saying, “We don’t want an AI demo, we want answers.” This comment received support from over 100 attendees who reacted positively. Despite their concerns, the meeting showcased GSAi, a new chatbot developed to assist staff with simple tasks. This technology is intended to help around 13,000 employees by Friday, a significant expansion from the 1,500 who currently use it. However, many employees remain focused on more pressing issues, such as job reductions and a lack of access to important software. Some workers questioned the meeting's focus on the chatbot, asking if it would truly address their needs. Comments like “this is not an efficient use of time” and “literally who cares about this?” reflected the sentiments of those who feel their concerns are being overlooked.