Tiranë: Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has introduced a groundbreaking addition to his new cabinet an artificial intelligence powered “minister” named Diella, whose main task will be to ensure transparency in government tenders.
Diella meaning “sun” in Albanian was presented as a digital cabinet member without physical presence.
Rama said her role will be to guarantee that public procurement processes are “100 percent free of corruption,” a pledge aimed at addressing one of Albania’s most persistent governance challenges.
Government tenders have long been a major source of corruption in the Balkan country, which is pushing for European Union membership. Meeting EU standards on transparency and anti-graft measures is central to Albania’s bid, with the government hoping to conclude accession talks by 2027 and secure full membership within five years.
Although Rama has added Diella to his cabinet lineup, it remains unclear if her post will be formally voted on in parliament. Legal experts note that her status is ambiguous, as she currently appears only virtually portrayed as a woman in traditional Albanian folk attire.
Opposition leader Gazmend Bardhi strongly criticized the initiative, calling it “buffoonery” in a social media post, and warning that such a move cannot replace legal procedures in state governance.
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The Prime Minister has yet to detail how much human oversight will be integrated into the system or address concerns about potential manipulation of the AI.
Initially launched earlier this year as part of Albania’s e-Albania digital services platform, Diella functioned as a virtual assistant, processing over 36,000 documents and providing nearly 1,000 services to citizens, according to government figures.
Albania positions itself among the first nations to formally assign artificial intelligence a role in government a bold step that will test both its domestic legal framework and the EU’s response to digital innovation in governance.