Albania has ushered in an AI revolution in government, appointing Diella, the world’s first AI-powered minister, to oversee public procurement. Prime Minister Edi Rama stated that Diella, meaning “sun,” will ensure a completely transparent public administration free of corruption in the new government he formed for his fourth term.

Albania Appoints AI-Powered Minister

Rama, who won the May elections, introduced his new cabinet members at a Socialist Party meeting, including virtual minister Diella. Diella is tasked with making decisions regarding all public procurement. This move aims to ensure the corruption-free and transparent management of public funds.

Diella, who has been used as a virtual assistant since January, was designed to resemble a woman wearing a traditional Albanian costume. At the time, she facilitated citizens’ access to documents and services through the official e-Albania platform. According to official records, the virtual assistant has since created 36,600 digital documents and provided approximately 1,000 services.

Prime Minister Edi Rama is preparing to present his new cabinet to parliament. For the Balkan country of 2.8 million, combating corruption and ensuring transparency in public administration are key criteria for EU membership.

Rama aims to bring his country into the EU by 2030. The idea that artificial intelligence would be immune to political pressures and corruption risks has long been discussed. Albania was among the first countries to take concrete steps toward making this idea a reality.