Albania made history by appointing an AI bot named Diella, meaning “sun” in Albanian, as a minister to oversee public procurement. The Albanian AI Minister, Diella, was appointed by Prime Minister Edi Rama to manage all public tenders. This move aims to eliminate corruption, a persistent issue in the Balkan nation, and boost transparency as Albania seeks EU membership by 2030.
According to AFP, Diella, described by Rama as a “virtual cabinet member,” will award contracts to private companies for government projects. “Diella will make public tenders 100% free of corruption,” Rama said during the cabinet unveiling. The appointment of the Albanian AI Minister represents a digital leap for governance in the country. Launched earlier in 2025 on the e-Albania platform, Diella assists with state documents using voice commands. It also uses electronic stamps, reducing bureaucratic delays, per Reuters.
🇦🇱 Albania to become the first country to appoint a non-physical artificial intelligence (AI) as a government minister.
PM Edi Rama announced his new cabinet, which includes an AI named “Diella” as minister of public procurement.
Diella previously served as the virtual… pic.twitter.com/IzaSvnbsBj
— kos_data (@kos_data) September 11, 2025Public tenders in Albania have long been linked to corruption, often tied to drug and weapons trafficking. This complicates the country’s EU bid. No details were provided on human oversight or safeguards against manipulation. Some Albanians doubt the impact of having an AI Minister, with social media comments like, “Even Diella will be corrupted.” There are also fears that the AI could be blamed for ongoing issues, per X posts.
🇦🇱 Here’s Diella, the new virtual AI Minister in Albania’s government. pic.twitter.com/3HwRnM9sWK
— kos_data (@kos_data) September 11, 2025Albania’s new parliament, elected in May 2025, convenes on September 12. However, it’s unclear if the government, including Diella’s role, will be approved that day. The appointment of the Albanian AI Minister reflects Rama’s push for innovation. Nonetheless, analysts call the 2030 EU goal ambitious.
Diella’s appointment as the world’s first AI minister marks a groundbreaking step in governance. If successful, it could set a model for using technology to fight corruption. The role of the Albanian AI Minister, however, is met with public scepticism. Additionally, a lack of oversight details raises questions about its effectiveness.
