Albania Appoints Diella, the World’s First AI-Made Minister, to Combat Corruption in Public Procurement

Albania has broken new ground in governance by appointing Diella, an artificial intelligence (AI) bot, as its minister responsible for managing public procurement, aiming to eradicate corruption entrenched in government contracts.

The announcement was made by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on September 11, 2025, as he unveiled his fourth-term cabinet. Diella, meaning “sun” in Albanian, is the first-ever AI-created cabinet member who is entirely virtual and not physically present. Her role will be to oversee and award all public tenders involving government contracts with private companies, a sector historically plagued by corruption scandals.

Prime Minister Rama stated, “Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present, but is virtually created by AI. She will help make Albania a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption.” This bold initiative aims to enhance transparency and accountability within Albania’s procurement system, notorious for graft and manipulation that have hampered the country’s aspirations to join the European Union by 2030.

Corruption in Albania’s public procurement has long been a source of political challenges, with the Balkan nation considered by experts as a hub for illicit activities, including trafficking and money laundering. By integrating Diella into the government, the Albanian leadership hopes to restore public trust and streamline administrative processes.

Originally launched earlier in 2025, Diella began her service as an AI-powered virtual assistant on Albania’s e-government platform, e-Albania. She helps citizens and businesses obtain state documents through voice commands and issues electronic documents with digital stamps, reducing bureaucratic delays. Now, her scope has been expanded dramatically to a ministerial level with real authority over public tenders.

While the government has introduced Diella without detailing the mechanisms for human oversight or protections against potential manipulation, observers note both the innovative potential and inherent risks of AI decision-making in governance. Critics on social media express skepticism; some suggest corruption will persist and merely be attributed to the AI minister.

The Albanian parliament, elected in May 2025, is scheduled to convene shortly to formalize the government formation, although the timeline for a confidence vote remains uncertain.

This unprecedented appointment places Albania at the forefront of technological integration in politics, testing whether AI can play a pivotal role in combating entrenched corruption in public institutions worldwide.

Diella: The AI Minister’s Profile

• Name Meaning: “Diella” means “sun” in Albanian, symbolizing transparency and new dawn.
• Role: Oversee and manage public procurement and tenders, ensuring impartiality.
• Origin: Started as an AI virtual assistant on e-Albania government platform.
• Capabilities: Uses voice commands, issues electronic documents with stamps, and will now award government contracts.
• Objective: Eradicate corruption and bureaucratic delays in government procurement.

Significance for Albania’s EU Accession Bid

Albania’s effort to reduce corruption through AI governance is a strategic move to meet the European Union’s standards for transparency and rule of law. The EU accession process has been complicated by persistent corruption scandals, impeding progress. By appointing Diella, Albania signals commitment to reform, though experts debate whether this technological approach alone can achieve systemic change.

Public and Expert Reactions

The AI minister appointment has garnered mixed reactions. Innovation advocates praise the use of AI to enhance fairness and disrupt patronage networks. Conversely, critics worry about lack of accountability, potential manipulation of AI, and the absence of clear human oversight mechanisms.

One anonymous Facebook user commented, “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania,” while another cautioned, “Stealing will continue and Diella will be blamed.” These sentiments underscore the challenges ahead for AI governance in environments where human corruption has been deeply rooted.

Looking Ahead

Albania’s experiment with Diella as an AI minister could set a precedent for digital governance worldwide if successful. Monitoring how the AI integrates with existing systems, its effectiveness in reducing corruption, and the safeguards implemented against abuse will be crucial to assessing this initiative’s long-term viability.

For now, Albania steps boldly into an uncertain future where artificial intelligence takes a formal political role, testing the boundaries of both technology and governance.