Albania Appoints World's First AI Minister to Combat Corruption

Tue Oct 21 2025 03:37:54 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Albania introduces Diella, an AI minister, to tackle corruption in public procurement. The initiative aims for transparency and efficiency in government practices.

In a groundbreaking move, Albania has appointed Diella, an AI minister, as part of Prime Minister Edi Rama's government, aiming to eliminate corruption in public procurement processes. While the initiative holds symbolic value, it seeks to enhance accountability and efficiency, with the potential for AI to lead reforms in government operations. The move sparked mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a publicity stunt amidst serious discussions on tackling corruption ahead of Albania's EU accession goals.

For government officials, being called heartless is an occupational hazard. But Albania has chosen to turn that insult into a positive quality, by appointing an AI minister.

The new addition is, like a pop star, known simply by the single name: Diella.

Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced her as a member of his new cabinet on Thursday, four months after securing his fourth term in office in May elections.

However, the move was symbolic rather than official, as Albania's constitution insists that government ministers must be mentally competent citizens aged at least 18.

Still, the advantages of appointing a bot over a human are obvious.

Diella, whose name means sun in Albanian, is unlikely to be the source of any unflattering leaks about the government. She will only be power-hungry in the sense of the electricity she consumes. And a damaging expenses scandal would appear to be out of the question.

In fact, corruption was uppermost in Rama's mind when he made Diella part of his team as minister for public procurement.

Her role will be to ensure that Albania will become a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption.

We're working with a brilliant team, which is not only Albanian but also international, to come out with the first full AI model in public procurement, the prime minister told the BBC.

Diella had already been working in Albania even before the government appointment. Her first incarnation was as an AI-powered virtual assistant, guiding applicants through the process to obtain official documents.

Rama boasts that Diella has helped more than a million applications on the e-Albania platform.

Reactions to Diella's new role are, understandably, mixed. The opposition Democratic Party has labelled the initiative ridiculous and unconstitutional.

Others are cautiously optimistic, noting the potential for AI to improve transparency and trust in public procurement.

Edi Rama does not deny that there is an element of a publicity stunt to his latest wheeze. But he insists that there is serious intent behind the playful presentation.