In an unprecedented political move, Albania has become the first country in the world to appoint an artificial intelligence-powered minister to its cabinet. On September 11, 2025, Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced Diella, a virtual AI minister, at the Socialist Party’s assembly in Tirana. This appointment, which has drawn global attention, marks a bold step in the use of technology to address persistent issues of corruption and inefficiency in government.
According to Politico, Diella is not just a minister for artificial intelligence, but rather, an AI-generated member of the government itself. "Diella is the first member not physically present but virtually created by artificial intelligence," Prime Minister Rama announced, underscoring the historic nature of the appointment. The AI minister’s primary responsibility is to oversee public procurement, a sector long plagued by allegations of bribery and favoritism in Albania.
The creation of Diella is not a symbolic gesture. As reported by Sky News, Diella is tasked with evaluating and awarding all public tenders where government contracts are issued to private firms. This is a critical area, as public procurement has been identified as a hotbed for corruption in Albania. By placing an AI in charge of these processes, the government aims to ensure that "public tenders are completely free of corruption" and to foster greater transparency and efficiency in state operations.
Diella, whose name is the female form of the Albanian word for "sun," is a virtual entity developed in partnership with Microsoft. As detailed by the National Agency for Information Society, Diella leverages the latest AI models and methods to carry out her assigned duties. She is already serving as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania public service platform, where she helps users navigate the site and access approximately one million digital inquiries and documents. Diella’s avatar, often depicted in traditional Albanian folk costume, is accessible to citizens through voice commands, making her a visible and interactive part of the country’s digital infrastructure.
Prime Minister Rama has been vocal about the potential for AI to curb corruption. He stated, as quoted by Politico, that the use of AI will help in "curbing bribes and threats," and that Diella will have the authority to "assess tenders and hire talents from across the world." The hope is that, by removing human discretion from key decision points, the government can reduce the risk of prejudice and rigidity that has historically hampered effective administration.
Yet, while the Albanian government touts Diella’s potential, questions remain about oversight and accountability. According to Politico, authorities have not disclosed what kind of human supervision will be in place to monitor Diella’s decisions. This lack of transparency has sparked concerns among observers, with some warning that a single issue could lead to a "security nightmare." The challenge of ensuring that the AI’s algorithms are free from bias and manipulation is significant, especially given the high stakes involved in public procurement.
Albania’s embrace of an AI minister comes at a pivotal moment for the country. As Sky News reported, the Socialist Party, led by Rama, recently secured a fourth consecutive term in parliamentary elections, winning 83 out of 140 seats. This majority allows the party to govern independently, though it falls short of the 93-seat threshold needed to amend the Constitution. The government has pledged to secure European Union membership for Albania within five years, aiming to complete negotiations by 2027. Diella is expected to play a role in accelerating reforms and aligning the country with EU standards—a process that has been met with skepticism by the Democratic opposition.
President Bajram Begaj has formally tasked Prime Minister Rama with forming the new government, a move that analysts say grants him the authority to implement Diella’s appointment. The Western Balkan nation began full EU membership negotiations just a year ago, and the new government faces significant challenges, including tackling organized crime and entrenched corruption—issues that have persisted since the end of communist rule in 1990.
The international response to Albania’s AI minister has ranged from intrigue to caution. As NBC News highlighted, Diella’s appointment is seen as a pioneering step in the integration of AI into government at the highest levels. The move positions Albania at the forefront of digital governance, offering a potential model for other countries grappling with similar issues of transparency and administrative efficiency.
However, the experiment is not without risks. The use of AI in sensitive areas like public procurement raises questions about data security, algorithmic bias, and the potential for unintended consequences. The lack of clear guidelines on human oversight and the possibility of system vulnerabilities have prompted some experts to urge caution. As one observer put it, "Apprehensions remain, as a single issue may lead to a security nightmare." The Albanian government, for its part, insists that Diella will help combat the prejudice and rigidity that can afflict traditional bureaucracies, but it has yet to provide concrete details on safeguards and accountability mechanisms.
For ordinary Albanians, Diella is already a part of daily life, processing bureaucratic requests and helping citizens navigate the complexities of government services. By integrating AI into the very fabric of its administration, Albania is testing the boundaries of what is possible in digital governance. The success or failure of this bold experiment will be closely watched by governments and technologists around the world.
As the world’s first AI minister begins her tenure, Albania stands at a crossroads. The promise of greater transparency, efficiency, and fairness is tantalizing, but the path forward is strewn with challenges. Only time will tell whether Diella’s appointment will usher in a new era of clean government—or whether it will serve as a cautionary tale about the limits of technology in public life.