Diella is the world’s first AI bot to hold a ministerial post, overseeing tenders and contracts.
Her role aims to ensure transparency and eliminate corruption in public procurement.
Originally launched on the e-Albania platform, Diella now joins Prime Minister Rama’s new cabinet.
Albania has become the first country to appoint an AI-generated bot as a minister to oversee public procurement. The virtual official, called Diella, which means “sun” in Albanian, will manage all government tenders and contracts through which private companies carry out public projects. Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is beginning his fourth term, introduced Diella while announcing his new cabinet. “Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present, but is virtually created by AI,” Rama said. He added that her role is to ensure public tenders are “100% free of corruption.”
SurveyPublic procurement has been one of Albania’s most controversial issues for decades, with contracts often linked to corruption scandals. According to reports, criminal networks have used the Balkan nation as a hub for laundering money from drug and weapons trafficking. These problems have also slowed Albania’s efforts to join the European Union, a goal Rama hopes to achieve by 2030.
Diella, however, is not entirely new. She was first launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania digital platform, where she assists citizens and businesses in applying for documents online. Dressed in traditional Albanian attire, Diella responds to voice commands, processes requests, and issues electronically stamped documents.
Now, with an appointment as minister, she has become the first AI bot to join governance across the globe. Although the government has not explained how much human oversight will be in place, or how risks of AI manipulation will be handled.
Notably, Rama won a fourth consecutive term in the May elections and is expected to present his new cabinet to the parliament soon.
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Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
