US State Department to use AI chatbot in selection of promotion review panels

The US State Department will begin using an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot to help select members of the panels that conduct annual evaluations for promotions and personnel moves, according to an internal cable dated June 9 and reviewed by Reuters.

The tool, known as StateChat, is an in-house chatbot developed using technology from Palantir and Microsoft. It will assist in choosing Foreign Service officers to sit on the Foreign Service Selection Boards, which oversee the process of determining career advancement and reassignments for department employees, Caliber.Az reports.

A department spokesperson emphasised that the evaluations themselves will not be conducted by AI, and that the chatbot's role is limited to assisting with the selection of board members.

These boards, mandated under the 1980 Foreign Service Act, are legally required to include “a substantial number of women and members of minority groups.” However, the cable made no reference to gender or minority representation in relation to the AI-based selection process.President Donald Trump's administration has repeatedly attacked what Republicans refer to as "DEI," a catch-all term covering work protecting civil rights, fighting discrimination, and boosting diversity.

Instead, the cable stated that StateChat will be used to “perform unbiased selection” of board participants based on internally adjudicated skill codes and professional grades. The resulting candidate list will then undergo a secondary screening to identify any disciplinary or security concerns before final appointments are made.

The State Department has reportedly used StateChat since last year for tasks such as transcribing meeting notes, drafting emails, and analysing diplomatic cables. Speaking at a Palantir conference last week, Amy Ritualo, the department’s acting Chief Data and AI Officer, revealed that the chatbot currently has around 40,000 users across the agency. Its use in the human resources process, however, had not been publicly disclosed until now.

The shift to AI comes after the department abruptly postponed the formation of this year’s selection boards last month. Individuals previously chosen to serve on the boards were notified via email that their participation was no longer required.

The American Foreign Service Association, the union representing State Department personnel, said it is seeking clarification from agency leadership on how the department intends to meet its legal obligations regarding representation of women and minorities.

The growing use of AI across the US government has continued under President Donald Trump’s administration, which returned to power following the 2024 election. While the adoption of StateChat predates Trump's re-election, his administration has significantly expanded the use of AI tools in federal agencies.

By Sabina Mammadli