Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has introduced an artificial intelligence-generated “minister” into his new cabinet to oversee anti-corruption efforts. The AI system, named Diella, meaning “sun” in Albanian, was presented on Thursday as a “member of the cabinet who is not present physically.” Rama said Diella will ensure that public tenders are 100% free of corruption.
Awarding public contracts has long been a major source of corruption in Albania, a Balkan nation of 2.8 million people that aspires to join the European Union. Tackling graft is seen as a key condition in Albania’s accession negotiations, which Rama’s Socialist Party has pledged to conclude by 2027. The party, now serving a fourth term, says EU membership can be achieved within five years.
It remains unclear whether parliament will be asked to vote on Diella’s appointment. Legal experts suggest further steps are needed to establish the official status of an AI-generated cabinet member. Opposition lawmakers criticized the move, with Gazmend Bardhi, parliamentary group leader of the Democrats, calling the decision unconstitutional. “The Prime Minister’s buffoonery cannot be turned into legal acts of the Albanian state,” Bardhi wrote on Facebook.
Rama has not clarified what level of human oversight will be in place for Diella or how the government plans to address concerns about potential manipulation of the AI system.
Launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania public service platform, Diella has already been used by citizens to access government services. According to official figures, she has facilitated the issuance of 36,600 digital documents and provided nearly 1,000 services through the platform.
The announcement has drawn mixed responses from the public. Some social media users expressed skepticism, suggesting corruption would persist regardless. One comment read, “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania.” Another remarked, “Stealing will continue, and Diella will be blamed.”