AI takes over government: Albania appoints bot 'Diella' as minister to fight corruption

Albania has made history by appointing an artificial intelligence bot named Diella as its new minister responsible for overseeing public procurement, marking the world’s first AI-generated cabinet member.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, beginning his fourth term, introduced Diella during a recent cabinet announcement, describing the AI bot as "the first member of the cabinet who does not physically exist but is created virtually through AI." Diella, whose name means "sun" in Albanian, will manage and award all government contracts involving private companies, a sector historically plagued by corruption in the Balkan nation.

"Diella will help transform Albania into a nation where public contracts are entirely devoid of corruption," said Rama, underlining the government's commitment to transparency and efficient governance. The appointment is part of broader efforts to clean up public administration and bolster Albania’s ambitions to join the European Union by 2030, although analysts regard this target as ambitious.

Initially launched earlier in 2025 as a virtual assistant on Albania's e-Albania platform, Diella helped citizens and businesses access state documents more efficiently via voice commands and electronic stamps, reducing bureaucratic delays. Now, clad in traditional Albanian attire as a digital avatar, Diella takes on a more critical role in public procurement, aiming to eliminate human biases such as bribery, threats, or favouritism from the tender awarding process.

While the initiative has received widespread attention and praise as a technological innovation in governance, scepticism remains among some citizens and experts who question the AI's immunity to manipulation and the lack of clarity on human oversight mechanisms.

Nonetheless, Diella represents a pioneering blend of AI technology and public administration in the pursuit of a corruption-free government, setting a precedent that could influence other nations worldwide.

The newly elected Albanian parliament is scheduled to convene soon, with Diella's role symbolising a modern approach to governance challenges in the 21st century.