Albania Appoints First AI Minister: Chatbot “Diella” to Fight Corruption

Albania writes “History”: As the first country worldwide, the government appoints an artificial intelligence as a minister. The Chatbot Diella will in future monitor public tenders and combat corruption.

World premiere in the Balkans state

Albania is the first country in the world to bring artificial intelligence into the government. The virtual minister Diella – in German “Sun” – should monitor the procurement system in the future. Prime Minister Edi Rama presented her as a cabinet member who did not physically exist, but was created by AI. Decisions on government orders should be outside the ministries and become fully understandable. Like that Political magazine politico reports Rama announced the appointment at a meeting of the Socialist Party in Tirana. He emphasized: “This is not a science fiction, but the task of Diella.”

The Albanian constitution prescribes ministerial offices for “adult, mentally accountable” citizens. The faction leader of the opposition Democratic Party, Gazment Bardhi, therefore described the appointment as unconstitutional. Rama’s socialist party again won the absolute majority in parliament in May. However, a two-thirds majority would be necessary for constitutional changes.

It is still open whether Rama is striving for such an adaptation for Diella. At the beginning of the year, Diella started the e-albania platform as a virtual assistant. In traditional costume, she helps citizens to navigate on the website and with official services.

Fight against corruption as an EU target

Albania has long been struggling with corruption and lies in 80th out of 180 states in the Transparency International Index. Rama wants to lead the country to the EU by 2030, whereby the fight against corruption is considered the key condition. It remains unclear how Diella works technically, which control mechanisms are planned and which human supervision is intended. Critics warn that AI could otherwise easily become “digital disguise of old grievances”.