Albania has become the first country to appoint an artificial intelligence-generated “minister” into its government Cabinet. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the creation of Diella, described as a “member of the Cabinet who is not present physically but has been created virtually,” during his Socialist Party conference. The AI-powered virtual minister, named “Diella” meaning “Sun” in Albanian, will oversee public procurement and aim to eliminate corruption from government tenders.
Rama stated that Diella’s role includes reviewing and deciding on all state contracts to ensure transparency and end decades of graft scandals. The AI tool uses advanced models to guarantee accuracy in its duties, according to Albania’s National Agency for Information Society. Diella, depicted in a traditional Albanian folk costume, was developed earlier this year with Microsoft as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania public service platform. She has previously assisted users with over 1 million digital inquiries and documents.
The prime minister emphasized that Diella will evaluate tenders, hire global talents, and dismantle administrative rigidity. Albania has long faced corruption issues in public administration, highlighted by the European Union in its rule of law reports. Rama’s Socialist Party secured a fourth consecutive term in May 2025, positioning Albania to join the EU by 2030. The AI minister’s appointment aligns with efforts to make public tenders “100 percent incorruptible” and ensure full transparency in public funds.
