Albania has appointed Diella, an AI bot, as minister for public procurement to combat corruption and improve transparency, though questions remain about oversight and effectiveness. (Source: Image by RR)

Prime Minister Edi Rama Unveils Diella as the First Virtual Cabinet Member

Albania has appointed an AI-generated bot named Diella as its new minister for public procurement. Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled Diella on Thursday, calling her the first virtual cabinet member in the country’s history. Diella, whose name means “sun” in Albanian, will manage and award all government tenders in an effort to eliminate bribery, favoritism, and corruption—longstanding issues in the Balkan nation. Rama described the move as a step toward making Albania “a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption.”

The appointment, as noted in reuters.com, comes amid persistent graft scandals and EU ambitions. Albania has struggled with a reputation as a hub for organized crime and money laundering, a perception that has complicated its bid for European Union membership, which Rama hopes to achieve by 2030. Public tenders have often been at the center of corruption controversies, prompting this bold attempt to remove human influence from procurement decisions. However, the government has not specified what oversight measures will ensure Diella’s integrity or prevent manipulation of the AI.

Diella is already a familiar figure to Albanian citizens. Earlier this year, she launched as an AI-powered assistant on the e-Albania platform, dressed in traditional Albanian attire and capable of issuing state documents with electronic stamps. She can provide help via voice commands, reducing bureaucracy and wait times for citizens and businesses. Her new ministerial role expands her responsibilities significantly, shifting her from administrative tasks to critical governance functions.

Skepticism remains among Albanians, even as the parliament prepares to convene. Some citizens have expressed doubts on social media, suggesting corruption will persist regardless of AI oversight. Comments such as “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania” reflect a lack of public trust. The new parliament, elected in May, is set to meet Friday, though it remains unclear when the full government—including Diella’s formal appointment—will be confirmed.

read more at reuters.com