In a move that sounds like the plot of a sci-fi novel, Albania has become the first country in the world to appoint an AI-generated minister. Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced Diella—a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence—as the country’s new overseer of public tenders and government contracts. “Diella is the first (government) member who is not physically present, but virtually created by artificial intelligence,” Rama told members of his Socialist Party this week.
Launched in January as a digital helper for Albania’s e-government portal, Diella was originally designed to guide citizens through documents and services. Now she’s been elevated to cabinet-level rank, responsible for managing billions in public procurement—one of the country’s most corruption-prone sectors. Diella—whose name means “sun” in Albanian—appears in traditional attire, responds to voice commands, and issues electronically stamped documents. More importantly, she’s been tasked with ensuring every public tender decision is “100% corruption-free and transparent.”
Public procurement has long been a breeding ground for corruption in Albania, a country that’s been pushing hard for European Union membership. Cleaning up tendering is a critical test. Rama’s bet is that algorithms can succeed where human ministers have failed: cutting out favoritism, middlemen, and hidden deals. In theory, AI can apply the rules consistently—no bribes, no favoritism, no personal networks.
By giving Diella a ministerial role, Albania has set a precedent no other government has dared to try. Transparency by design means every contract submitted will be digitally traceable. Automation could speed up decisions and reduce bureaucratic delays. Symbolically, the move signals Albania’s willingness to experiment with radical governance models as it courts EU membership.
Not everyone is buying the hype. Critics warn that AI is only as clean as the data and rules it’s fed. Biases in algorithms, lack of accountability, or even cyber-manipulation could pose risks. Transparency advocates, however, argue that machines are at least less likely to demand kickbacks.
The bigger question is whether Albania’s “AI minister” is a gimmick or the beginning of a broader trend in digital governance. If Diella delivers on her mandate, the model could be copied by other nations fighting corruption in procurement. If she fails, it may reinforce skepticism about AI’s ability to handle complex policy decisions. Either way, the experiment has already succeeded in putting Albania at the center of the global conversation on AI in government.
