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Elon Musk's DOGE Employee Leaks API Key, Exposing 52 Large Language Models

In a major security breach, a DOGE employee leaked an API key, compromising 52 large language models. The key remains active, raising concerns about data safety and the planned use of Grok by the U.S. Department of Defense.

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Elon Musk's DOGE Employee Leaks API Key, Exposing 52 Large Language Models

A 25-year-old employee at Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Marko Elez, has caused a security breach. Elez inadvertently exposed a private API key, granting access to more than four dozen large language models (LLMs) developed by Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI. The key remains active and has not been revoked.

Elez's actions are not an isolated incident. This is the second time a DOGE employee has leaked a private xAI key on GitHub. The exposed key allows interaction with at least 52 different LLMs used by xAI, including the most recent one created on July 9, 2025. Notably, Grok, the generative AI chatbot developed by xAI and integrated into Twitter/X, relies on these LLMs.

Prior to joining DOGE, Elez worked for several of Musk's companies. He has a history of controversial social media posts and policy violations. Despite this, Elez was granted access to sensitive databases at multiple U.S. federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration, Department of Labor, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Justice.

The Department of Defense is set to begin using Grok as part of a contract worth up to $200 million. However, the recent security breach raises concerns about the safety and privacy of the data these models process.

Marko Elez's actions have potentially compromised the security of numerous large language models developed by xAI. The exposed API key remains active, and the incident highlights the need for stricter security protocols within Musk's companies and the U.S. government. The Department of Defense's planned use of Grok may be impacted by this breach.

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