US govt to use AI to give passport within minutes, Marco Rubio demo makes people call him next Steve Jobs

What do you expect from a government launch event? Boring speeches, bureaucratic announcements and a very formal setting? Well, the US government has decided to give things a Silicon Valley-style makeover. The Trump administration recently unveiled America.gov, an AI-powered portal for government services, at a launch event that felt more like an Apple or Google product showcase. With slick visuals and a live demo of AI-powered passport applications, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's presentation looked more like a keynote at a tech event. Some netizens are even comparing the event with Apple Keynote saying Rubio's presentation looked like Steve Jobs announced the next Mac.

The Donald Trump administration on Tuesday launched America.gov, an AI-powered portal designed to help Americans find information and access federal government services through a single website. During the launch event in Washington, DC, Rubio demonstrated how the portal could eventually simplify passport applications, while also unveiling plans for redesigned passports and premium-looking packaging. The presentation's polished, product-launch feel, unlike the boring bureaucratic feels, prompted social media users to compare it with an Apple keynote.

Seems like the Trump administration is bringing Silicon Valley vibes to its government services, too.

What is America.gov and how will it work?

America.gov is essentially an AI chatbot for government services. People can type questions in plain English, and the system searches more than 29,000 government websites to find answers and link to official sources. According to the General Services Administration, which operates the portal, the idea behind this portal is to give people a single place to find information related to the US government instead of making them jump between different websites.

For now, the portal mainly helps people find information and understand how to access services. However, the US administration plans to add more features, allowing people to complete tasks such as renewing passports and enrolling in Medicare directly through the portal, without having to navigate multiple government websites.

At the launch event, US Secretary Rubio also demonstrated the proposed passport process. He said Americans would eventually be able to apply for their first passport online, upload a photograph, pay the fee, track their application and receive an estimated delivery date. He also announced plans for redesigned passports and new gold-and-white packaging, arguing that the experience should be more convenient and accessible.

Apple keynote style launch event

While the online passport process was one of the major highlights of the event, the way Rubio presented it is also going viral. Unlike a conventional government briefing, the launch featured slick visuals and a live demonstration showing how the new portal could make everyday tasks, such as applying for a passport, easier.

The presentation is reminding netizens of Apple's product keynotes, where executives take the stage to demonstrate new products and explain how they work. Some social media users have even compared Rubio to the late Steve Jobs, while others joked that the US government was launching software like a tech startup.

Interestingly, Joe Gebbia, the Airbnb co-founder who leads the White House's National Design Studio, could have influenced this tech event-like launch approach. With his background in building a tech company, Gebbia is bringing a product-design mindset to government services, focusing on making them simpler and easier to use. This could be one reason why the America.gov launch felt mor