Albania's AI "Minister" Takes On Corruption in Bid for EU Trust

Albania’s government has made a historic appointment by elevating Diella, an AI-powered virtual assistant, to the role of minister responsible for overseeing public tenders. The move, announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama following a significant electoral victory, is intended to reinforce transparency and eliminate corruption in the country’s public administration. According to Rama, Diella, whose name means “sun” in Albanian, is the first cabinet member not physically present but created and operated through artificial intelligence. Her mandate includes managing public procurement processes, which Rama described as “100-percent corruption-free” and “perfectly transparent.”

Diella was originally launched in January as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, where she assists citizens and businesses in accessing government services and issuing digital documents. According to official data, she has already processed 36,600 digital documents and provided nearly 1,000 services through the platform. The expansion of her role reflects the government’s broader digital transformation strategy, which aims to streamline bureaucratic procedures and reduce opportunities for graft. Rama, who secured a fourth term in office in May, is scheduled to present the new cabinet to the legislature in the coming days.

The appointment of an AI minister aligns with Albania’s long-term goal of joining the European Union by 2030, a process that requires significant progress in combating corruption, particularly in the public sector. While the government has not disclosed details regarding human oversight or potential safeguards against manipulation of the AI system, Rama remains confident in its capacity to uphold integrity in public procurement. Public tenders in Albania have historically been a source of political and financial scandals, often linked to organized crime networks involved in drug and weapons trafficking.

Despite the government’s optimism, public skepticism remains. Some Albanian citizens expressed concerns that even an AI system could be subject to manipulation or misused, with one Facebook user stating, “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania,” and another suggesting, “Stealing will continue and Diella will be blamed.” These concerns highlight the challenges in transitioning from a system where human discretion has long been a factor to one governed by algorithmic decision-making.

The integration of AI into governance represents a bold step for Albania, signaling its commitment to modernization and digital governance. As the nation moves forward with its EU accession plans, the success of Diella will be closely watched as a test of both technological capability and public trust in institutional reform.