Albania Appoints Diella, the World’s First AI Cabinet Minister to Combat Corruption
Albania has named an artificial intelligence robot, Diella, a cabinet-level minister responsible for monitoring the country's public procurement processes in a world first.
The move represents a daring experiment in government that has provoked both admiration and alarm in political and legal circles.
Diella, or 'sun' in Albanian, is a digital body incorporated into the government's e-Albania portal. Until recently, it was a digital assistant that assisted citizens in accessing services and filling out paperwork. It has now been promoted to the newly formed position of 'Minister for Public Procurement' to assess and award tenders nationwide. The Albanian government claims this appointment will ensure corruption is eliminated and an unprecedented level of transparency is introduced to public expenditure. Procurement has long been a sensitive topic for Albania, with claims of favoritism and mismanagement tainting public opinion. Officials claim that an uncorruptible AI system will ensure credibility by basing decisions on data and preset rules alone.
Edi Rama, the Prime Minister of Albania, says, 'Diella will make Albania a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption.'
Though hailed as visionary, the move has also caused fierce controversy. Legal experts wonder how a system that is not human can be held to ministerial responsibility when accountability in government has always been with elected or appointed members. Opposition parties caution that hiding behind an algorithm can lead to less transparency, not more, especially if Diella's decision-making mechanisms remain closed. Cybersecurity specialists have also expressed additional concern regarding the manipulation vulnerability. If hackers gain access to Diella, the implications would be immense, as it holds access to contracts valued in millions of euros.
The appointment is at a pivotal time for Albania, which is making strides in reforming its institutions in line with its drive to join the European Union in 2030. The AI minister was presented by Prime Minister Edi Rama as proof of Albania's commitment to modernizing its institutions and adopting innovation. The supporters see it as a courageous move toward a leaner and corruption-free government. Critics say the move is more symbolic than substantive, citing the lack of a clear legal framework spelling out the authority and responsibility of a digital officeholder.
Regardless of the outcome, Albania’s appointment of an AI minister has set a precedent that will be closely studied worldwide. Governments across Europe and beyond are grappling with how to harness artificial intelligence in the public sector while maintaining democratic accountability. For Albania, the experiment is both a technological leap and a political gamble. As Diella gets down to work, the world will be waiting to see if this electronic minister can do what human administrators so often cannot — a corruption-free, unbiased, and efficient procurement system.
