Albania appoints the world's first AI Minister

Albania has appointed Diella, an AI system, to oversee government contracts and enhance administrative transparency, sparking a debate about the role of AI in politics.

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has appointed the world's first minister created by Artificial Intelligence (AI), named Diella. This digital minister has been tasked with overseeing all government contract activities to make them 100% transparent and free of corruption. This move makes Albania the first country in the world to use AI at the ministerial level to combat corruption.

This step is significant because it represents a new attempt to improve administrative transparency and combat corruption using modern technology. Diella, who is presented in traditional Albanian attire, was initially created in January 2025 to assist people in the official use of the e-Albania platform, having so far produced 36,600 digital documents and nearly 1,000 services.

Prime Minister Rama stated that Diella has the capability to oversee all government contract decisions, emphasizing that it will enable public funds to be 100% transparent. He added: “Diella is the first entity that does not physically exist but was created by Artificial Intelligence.” The AI Minister has also reportedly addressed parliament, stating: “The real threat to the constitution is never the machines, but the inhumane decisions of those in power.”

However, the appointment of Diella has sparked various reactions. Some experts have warned that AI is not a magic solution to corruption, as technology is only as good as the people who create and manage it. There are also concerns about how accountability will be addressed when important decisions are made by an AI system, along with questions about Diella's actual performance and whether it is effective. On the other hand, opposition leader Sali Berisha described this move as unconstitutional and aimed at attracting attention, stating that it is not possible to control corruption through Diella.

The Albanian government continues its efforts to combat corruption, which is one of the key requirements for its integration into the European Union.