Albania appointed an artificial intelligence–generated robot as a government minister tasked with overseeing public procurement and combating corruption.
The AI robot, named “Diella”, which means “sun” in Albanian, was unveiled by Prime Minister Edi Rama as part of his new cabinet, just as he begins his fourth term in office. According to Rama, Diella will manage and award all public tenders, insulating the process from bribery, lobbying, and intimidation that have long plagued the Balkan state.
“Diella is the first cabinet member who is not physically present, but virtually created by artificial intelligence,” Rama said during his announcement. “She will help make Albania a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption.”
Public contracts have historically been a hotbed of corruption scandals in Albania, a country often described by experts as a hub for organized crime networks involved in drug and arms trafficking. Persistent corruption has also complicated Albania’s bid to join the European Union, a goal Rama hopes to achieve by 2030, though political analysts view it as ambitious.
The government has yet to clarify whether human oversight will be applied to Diella’s decisions or how it will address potential risks of tampering with the AI system.
Launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on Albania’s e-government platform, Diella was originally designed to help citizens and businesses access official documents. She is programmed to interact through voice commands, issue digital documents with electronic stamps, and appears in traditional Albanian dress to symbolize national identity.
By elevating Diella to ministerial rank, the government hopes to reduce bureaucratic delays and close the loopholes that have historically enabled graft in state contracts.
Follow the latest news on Google News
