Diella: Albania’s First AI Minister to Eradicate Corruption

In a groundbreaking move, Albania has become the first nation in the world to appoint an artificial intelligence (AI) minister, named Diella, to tackle corruption in public procurement. Announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama on September 11, 2025, this bold decision marks a significant step in integrating AI into governance, aiming to create a transparent and corruption-free system for awarding public tenders. Diella, meaning "sun" in Albanian, is not a human but a digital avatar designed to oversee critical government processes, leveraging AI to eliminate bribery and irregularities. This historic appointment has sparked global interest, with both praise for its innovative approach and skepticism about its feasibility, as Albania seeks to address long-standing corruption challenges.

The Role of Diella in Albanian Governance

Diella, introduced as a virtual cabinet member, is tasked with overseeing all public tenders in which the Albanian government contracts private companies for various projects. Prime Minister Edi Rama, who secured his fourth term in May 2025, emphasized that Diella’s AI-driven approach will ensure that public tenders are “100% free of corruption” and that every public fund submitted to the tender process is “perfectly transparent.” By removing human decision-making from the procurement process, the government aims to eliminate bribes, threats, and conflicts of interest that have long plagued Albania’s public administration. Diella’s role is seen as a revolutionary step toward modernizing governance and enhancing accountability.

Unlike traditional ministers, Diella is not physically present but exists as a digital entity, powered by advanced AI technology. Her appointment is symbolic yet functional, as she is designed to evaluate tenders objectively, assess bids based on merit, and hire talent from both Albania and abroad. This move aligns with Rama’s vision of “leapfrogging” more advanced nations by adopting cutting-edge technology to streamline government processes. Diella’s role extends beyond mere automation, aiming to foster trust in public institutions by ensuring impartiality in decision-making.

Diella’s Origins and Existing Contributions

Diella is not a new creation but has been operational since January 2025 as a virtual assistant on Albania’s e-Albania platform, a digital portal that provides citizens access to approximately 95% of government services. Depicted as a woman dressed in traditional Albanian attire, Diella assists users through voice commands, helping with bureaucratic tasks such as obtaining driver’s licenses, pension applications, and court filings. According to official figures, she has facilitated the issuance of 36,600 digital documents and provided nearly 1,000 services, significantly reducing bureaucratic delays and enhancing user experience.

Her success on the e-Albania platform laid the foundation for her promotion to a ministerial role. Diella’s ability to handle complex administrative tasks with efficiency and transparency made her a natural candidate for overseeing public procurement, a sector notorious for corruption scandals in Albania. By leveraging her existing capabilities, the government aims to scale her impact, ensuring that public spending is clear, accountable, and free from human bias.

Albania’s Corruption Challenge

Corruption has long been a significant issue in Albania, particularly in public procurement, where tenders have been a source of scandals involving bribery, favoritism, and money laundering. The country, with a population of 2.8 million, has been identified by experts as a hub for international criminal networks seeking to launder profits from drug and arms trafficking. These challenges have complicated Albania’s bid to join the European Union (EU) by 2030, with the EU repeatedly highlighting corruption as a key barrier in its annual rule of law reports.

Prime Minister Rama, a proponent of digital innovation, sees AI as a powerful tool to address these issues. By entrusting Diella with public procurement, the government aims to remove human intermediaries who may be susceptible to corrupt practices. Rama has stated that Diella’s AI model, developed with input from both Albanian and international experts, will make the tender process faster, more efficient, and fully accountable, setting a precedent for other nations grappling with similar issues.

Mixed Reactions to Diella’s Appointment

The appointment of Diella has elicited a range of reactions, reflecting both optimism and skepticism. Supporters, including local media, have praised the move as a transformative step toward modernizing governance and enhancing transparency. Albanian outlets have described it as “a major transformation in the way the government conceives and exercises administrative power,” highlighting Diella’s potential to build trust in public institutions. Aneida Bajraktari Bicja, founder of Balkans Capital, noted that while Rama often blends reform with theatrics, Diella’s role could be constructive if it leads to robust systems for transparency.

However, critics have raised concerns about the initiative’s practicality and legality. The opposition Democratic Party has labeled Diella’s appointment “ridiculous” and “unconstitutional,” citing Albania’s constitution, which requires ministers to be mentally competent citizens aged at least 18. Gazmend Bardhi, parliamentary group leader of the Democrats, called it “buffoonery” that cannot be translated into legal acts. Social media reactions have been equally mixed, with some users expressing skepticism, stating, “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania,” or “Stealing will continue, and Diella will be blamed.” These comments reflect concerns about potential manipulation of the AI system or biases in its training data.

Challenges and Unanswered Questions

While Diella’s appointment is a bold experiment, it raises several questions about implementation and oversight. The government has not provided details on the extent of human oversight for Diella’s decisions or the mechanisms in place to prevent manipulation of the AI system. Experts warn that even advanced AI models can be vulnerable to biases or errors if trained on flawed data or improperly managed. Without clear accountability frameworks, there is a risk that Diella’s decisions could be challenged or blamed for unintended outcomes.

Additionally, Diella’s ministerial status remains symbolic rather than official, as it does not comply with constitutional requirements for government ministers. The government has indicated plans to introduce AI auditing systems and accountability frameworks to ensure transparency, but these are still in development. The success of Diella’s role will depend on the robustness of these systems and the government’s ability to address public skepticism.

Global Implications and EU Accession

Albania’s appointment of Diella positions the country at the forefront of AI integration in governance, potentially setting a model for other nations. The move aligns with Rama’s ambitious goal of securing EU membership by 2030, with negotiations targeted for completion by 2027. Addressing corruption is a critical condition for EU accession, and Diella’s role could strengthen Albania’s credibility with EU leaders by demonstrating a commitment to transparency and modernization.

Globally, Diella’s appointment has sparked discussions about the role of AI in public policy. Other countries, such as France with its “Albert” AI program for tax queries, are exploring similar applications, but Albania’s decision to elevate an AI to a ministerial role is unprecedented. The experiment could inspire other nations to adopt AI-driven solutions for governance challenges, provided Albania can demonstrate tangible results in reducing corruption.

The Future of AI in Governance

Diella’s appointment represents a bold leap into the future of governance, where AI could play an increasingly significant role. Rama has acknowledged an element of publicity in the move but insists it is driven by serious intent to reform public administration. By challenging traditional ways of working, Diella’s role is expected to pressure other cabinet members and national agencies to innovate and improve efficiency. The initiative also highlights Albania’s rapid digital transformation, building on the success of the e-Albania platform.

As Diella begins her tenure, the world will be watching to see whether this AI minister can deliver on the promise of a corruption-free procurement process. The initiative’s success could redefine the role of technology in governance, offering a blueprint for other nations to follow. For now, Diella stands as a symbol of Albania’s ambition to embrace innovation while tackling one of its most persistent challenges.