Fact Check: "ProPublica exposed 'cruel and dumb AI formulas' used to cancel VA contracts."
What We Know
The claim that ProPublica exposed "cruel and dumb AI formulas" used to cancel VA contracts stems from a series of reports and statements made by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Angus King. According to their findings, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) used flawed and error-prone artificial intelligence (AI) tools to inform decisions about canceling contracts that were essential for veteran services. The Senators highlighted that these AI tools did not incorporate meaningful input from VA career experts, which raises concerns about the decision-making process and its implications for veterans' care (Blumenthal, King Call on VA's Office of Inspector General to ..., Senators Demand Investigation of DOGE's AI-Driven VA ... - ProPublica).
ProPublica's reporting indicated that the VA's Office of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employed these AI algorithms to assess contracts for cancellation, leading to significant operational disruptions within the VA (ProPublica — Investigative Journalism and News in the Public …, DOGE used flawed AI tool to 'munch' Veteran Affairs contracts, report ...). The reports suggest that the use of such AI tools resulted in a chaotic cancellation process, with hundreds of contracts being terminated in a short period, many of which were critical for veteran services (Blumenthal, King Call on VA's Office of Inspector General to ..., Senators Demand Transparency on Canceled VA Contracts - ProPublica).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from credible sources, including statements from U.S. Senators and investigative reporting by ProPublica, a well-regarded nonprofit newsroom known for its investigative journalism. The Senators' call for an investigation into the VA's contract cancellations and the use of AI tools indicates a serious concern about the implications of these decisions on veteran care (The Honorable David Case - veterans.senate.gov, King, Blumenthal Call for Investigation into Cancelled ...).
However, the phrase "cruel and dumb" is subjective and not directly quoted from the sources. While the reports do highlight the flawed nature of the AI tools and the chaotic process, they do not explicitly label the AI as "cruel and dumb." This language appears to be an interpretation or paraphrase of the concerns raised by the Senators and ProPublica's reporting.
The reliability of the sources is high, as they include official statements from U.S. Senators and reputable investigative journalism. ProPublica has a strong track record of uncovering issues related to government and corporate accountability, which lends credibility to their findings (About Us - ProPublica).
Conclusion
The claim that ProPublica exposed "cruel and dumb AI formulas" used to cancel VA contracts is Partially True. While it accurately reflects the essence of the reports regarding the use of flawed AI tools in the VA's contract cancellation process, the specific wording "cruel and dumb" is not directly cited from the sources. The underlying issues raised about the impact of these AI tools on veterans' services are indeed serious and warrant further investigation.
Sources
- The Honorable David Case - veterans.senate.gov
- Blumenthal, King Call on VA's Office of Inspector General to ...
- King, Blumenthal Call for Investigation into Cancelled ...
- Senators Demand Investigation of DOGE's AI-Driven VA ... - ProPublica
- DOGE used flawed AI tool to 'munch' Veteran Affairs contracts, report ...
- ProPublica — Investigative Journalism and News in the Public …
- Senators Demand Transparency on Canceled VA Contracts - ProPublica
- About Us - ProPublica