World's first AI cabinet minister appointed in Albania to fight corruption. Meet Diella

A woman looks at a phone as she uses the Albanian government portal 'E - Albania', now assisted by government artificial intelligence cabinet minister avatar 'Diella'.

Albania has become the first country to induct an artificial intelligence-powered minister into its cabinet, with Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiling “Diella” — a virtual minister tasked with overseeing public procurement — at the Socialist Party’s assembly in Tirana on September 11.

“Diella is the first member not physically present but virtually created by artificial intelligence,” Rama said, as quoted by Politico.eu. The AI minister, named after the Albanian word for “sun,” is designed to evaluate and award public tenders, a sector long plagued by corruption and opacity.

The appointment follows Rama’s earlier remarks in January about the possibility of a digital or AI prime minister. While initially dismissed as speculative, the move has now materialised into a formal political decision. According to AFP, Diella is already operational via Albania’s digital services portal, where she processes bureaucratic requests through voice commands and has facilitated over 36,600 digital documents and nearly 1,000 services.

A virtual minister with real power

Diella’s mandate includes managing all decisions related to public tenders, with Rama assuring that the process will be “100 per cent corruption-free” and “perfectly transparent.” The AI will also have the authority to assess tenders and recruit talent globally, with the government claiming it will help eliminate prejudice and rigidity in administrative processes.

Local media have described Diella’s induction as “a major transformation in the way the Albanian government conceives and exercises administrative power,” positioning technology not just as a tool but as an active participant in governance.

Origins and oversight

Originally introduced as a digital assistant in January, Diella was designed to resemble a woman in traditional Albanian attire and help citizens navigate the e-Albania platform. Her transition from virtual assistant to minister marks a significant leap in the use of AI within government structures.

But, Albanian authorities have not disclosed what kind of human oversight will be deployed to monitor Diella’s decisions. Experts have raised concerns about potential security risks, especially given Albania’s history of corruption in public procurement and its role as a hub for international criminal networks, as reported by The Guardian.

EU accession and political context

The move comes amid Albania’s ongoing bid to join the European Union, where tackling corruption remains a key benchmark. Rama, who secured a fourth consecutive term in May, is expected to present his new cabinet — including Diella — to parliament in the coming days.

While the appointment has drawn praise for its innovation, critics warn that a single flaw in the system could trigger a governance crisis. For now, Diella stands as a symbol of Albania’s digital ambitions — and a test case for AI’s role in public administration.