Quick Breakdown
- Albania appoints “Diella” as the world’s first AI cabinet member, overseeing public procurement.
- The AI has already processed tens of thousands of digital documents for citizens via e-Albania.
- Concerns remain over accountability, oversight, and risk of manipulation in the AI’s new role.
Albania has taken a historic leap into digital governance with the introduction of “Diella,” an AI-powered cabinet member entrusted with tackling corruption and streamlining state services. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the move during a Socialist Party assembly on Thursday, describing it as a bold attempt to keep Albania “100% free of corruption.”
AI joins the cabinet
“Diella” is the world’s first artificial intelligence appointee to hold a government role of this scale. Unlike human ministers, the virtual official exists only in digital form but has been granted oversight of all government procurement of goods and services, a sector that has been at the center of multiple corruption scandals in the country.
The AI, whose name means “sun” in Albanian, had already been operating as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, where it helped citizens secure documents ranging from driver’s licenses to pension applications and court filings. According to officials, Diella has facilitated over 36,600 digital documents and enabled nearly 1,000 services through voice commands and electronic stamps.
Despite the enthusiasm, Rama did not specify who would be responsible if Diella makes errors or how the government intends to prevent potential manipulation of the system.
Part of a global trend
The announcement follows Ukraine’s launch of “Victoria Shi” in 2024, an AI-generated spokesperson delivering foreign affairs updates. Apple Inc. is also exploring the use of generative AI to streamline the design process of its custom chips.
However, while Albania has embraced AI, it has been less welcoming to cryptocurrency. Despite passing one of Europe’s most comprehensive crypto regulatory frameworks in 2020, the country’s central bank continues to warn against the risks of crypto trading, slowing adoption.
Battling a legacy of corruption
Albania’s political landscape has been clouded by decades of corruption cases. In 2023, former environment minister Lefter Koka was sentenced to over six years in prison for accepting a multimillion-euro bribe.
The persistent scandals have hindered Albania’s ambitions to join the European Union, a goal the nation has pursued since becoming a candidate in 2014. Rama has expressed optimism that EU membership could be achieved by 2030.
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