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 seems to be changing that with a Silicon Valley-style makeover. The Trump administration recently unveiled America.gov, an AI-powered portal for government services, in a launch that felt more like an Apple or Google product showcase than a typical government event. With slick visuals and a live demo by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the presentation has caught the internet’s attention, with netizens comparing it to an Apple keynote and joking that Rubio looked like Steve Jobs unveiling the next Mac.

The Donald Trump administration on Tuesday launched America.gov, an AI-powered portal designed to help users 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.SECRETARY RUBIO on https://t.co/pt9rQXC44r: The point of all of this that we're doing here today, and this is simple, is to make the process more accessible and easier for Americans. pic.twitter.com/8BKyPZJPrM— Department of State (@StateDept) September 29, 2026

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

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.- EndsAlso Read | What phone does Virat Kohli use? Now we know and it's a surpriseAlso Read | After Meta Muse, Manus launches Cue AI agentsAlso Read | Business WhatsApp messages to cost more from October 1 in India, pricing revised

Divya enjoys making sense of the ever-evolving worlds of tech and AI. From decoding specifications and testing the latest gadgets to exploring how technology shapes the way we live, work and connect, she believes there is always more to a story than what meets the eye. Away from the screen, she is probably brewing her next cup of coffee, thinking about her next meal or overthinking just about everything else.