Albania has made international headlines by becoming the first country to appoint an artificial intelligence system as a government minister. The virtual official, named Diella—meaning “sun” in Albanian—has been tasked with overseeing public tenders to eliminate corruption from government procurement processes.
Albania makes World’s 1st AI Govt. Minister – Diella
Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled his unprecedented cabinet appointment during a Socialist Party meeting following his significant electoral victory in May. The decision represents a bold experiment in digital governance as Albania seeks European Union membership by 2030.
“Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present, but is virtually created by AI,” Rama announced during the presentation. The AI minister will help transform Albania into “a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption,” according to the Prime Minister.
Rama, who secured his fourth consecutive term in office, explained that Diella would be “entrusted with all decisions on public tenders, making every public fund submitted to the tender procedure perfectly transparent.” This appointment directly addresses Albania’s longstanding corruption challenges, particularly in public procurement—a persistent issue that has hindered the Balkan nation’s EU accession prospects.
Albania, home to 2.8 million people, has struggled with corruption scandals surrounding public tender awards. International experts identify the country as a hub for criminal organizations laundering money from global drug and weapons trafficking, with corruption reportedly reaching high levels of government.
The fight against corruption in public administration remains a critical criterion for Albania’s EU membership bid, making Diella’s appointment strategically significant for the country’s European aspirations.
About Diella:
Diella originally debuted in January as an AI-powered virtual assistant on the e-Albania digital platform, helping citizens and businesses obtain government documents. Dressed in traditional Albanian attire, she operates through voice commands and issues documents with electronic stamps, significantly reducing bureaucratic delays.
Official statistics indicate Diella has already facilitated the issuance of 36,600 digital documents and provided nearly 1,000 services through the platform.
However, the government has not disclosed details about human oversight mechanisms for Diella’s operations or addressed potential risks of AI manipulation. Earlier this year, Rama had suggested Albania might eventually appoint a digital minister or even an AI prime minister, though few anticipated such rapid implementation.
