Albania Appoints World’s First AI Government Minister to Tackle Corruption

Albania has appointed an artificial intelligence system named Diella as a cabinet-level minister.

Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the appointment on September 11, 2025, making Albania the first country to officially give an AI system a government portfolio.

Rama described the decision as a “giant leap toward corruption-free governance.”

What Is Diella?

Diella, which means “sun” in Albanian, is a female-avatar-based AI system created by Albania’s National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI).

Diella will act as Albania’s Minister for Public Procurement, making decisions based on data and clear rules instead of personal influence.

This setup is designed to block bribes, favoritism, or political pressure from affecting tender results.

The system is supposed to bring full transparency to every step of the bidding process, so that contracts are open and traceable.

How It Will Work

Before becoming a minister, Diella worked as a digital assistant on the government’s e-Albania portal, where she guided citizens, issued documents, and handled online service requests.

Government data shows that by early September 2025, Diella had processed over 36,600 documents and supported nearly 1,000 services for citizens.

The AI’s voice and likeness were modeled by Albanian actress Anila Bisha, giving the virtual minister a familiar human touch.

Why It Matters

Public procurement has long been considered a hotspot for corruption in Albania, with widespread allegations of favoritism, bribery, and political interference.

These issues have been a major obstacle in Albania’s European Union accession talks.

By giving tenders to an AI, Prime Minister Rama aims to remove human bias and ensure transparency.

If it works, Albania could set a global example for AI-led governance.

Key Functions and Powers

• Oversee Public Procurement: Diella will evaluate, manage, and award all government tenders.
• Transparency by Design: Every tender decision will be documented and published digitally to prevent secrecy.
• Integration with e-Albania: Diella operates through Albania’s main online services portal, ensuring broad access.
• Gradual Authority Transfer: While the system is new, responsibilities will be shifted step by step to ensure stability.

Officials say Diella will act as a fully functioning minister, not just a symbolic figure, with her portfolio formally recognized under Albanian law.

Background and Development

Diella was first introduced in January 2025 as part of Albania’s digital governance initiative.

Over the year, she handled nearly one million citizen interactions, providing guidance on services and issuing digitally verified documents.

Her promotion to minister was made possible by a presidential decree, which gave her legal authority to act in a cabinet position.

What to Watch Next

• Oversight Rules: The government has yet to outline audit mechanisms or appeal procedures for bidders challenging Diella’s decisions.
• Performance Metrics: The success of this experiment will be judged by tender speed, fairness, and measurable reductions in corruption cases.
• Global Impact: Other nations are closely watching Albania’s bold move. If successful, it could inspire AI-driven governance models worldwide.

News Gist

Albania has appointed Diella, the world’s first AI cabinet minister, to oversee public procurement and fight corruption.

The AI system will manage tenders with data-driven transparency, aiming to eliminate favoritism and strengthen Albania’s EU membership bid.

FAQs

Q1. What is Diella?

Diella is an AI-powered virtual minister appointed to manage Albania’s public procurement.

Q2. Why was Diella created?

To fight corruption in government tenders and ensure full transparency.

Q3. Who announced the appointment?

Prime Minister Edi Rama on September 11, 2025.

Q4. What will Diella do?

Oversee, evaluate, and award public contracts in a corruption-free manner.

Q5. Why is this important for Albania?

It supports anti-corruption reforms and boosts EU accession efforts.

Q6. Is this a global first?

Yes, Albania is the first country to appoint an AI as a cabinet minister.