Albania Appoints an AI Minister to Fight Corruption
Albania has become the first country to appoint an AI minister, “Diella,” to fight corruption in public contracts. Her appointment raises hopes, doubts, and global debate on AI in politics
Albania Appoints World’s First AI Minister – Can Technology Fight Corruption?
On 11 September 2025, Albania made history by becoming the first country in the world to appoint an AI bot as a government minister. Prime Minister Edi Rama named “Diella,” a virtual AI assistant, as Minister of Public Procurement to oversee how public money is spent.
Diella first appeared in January 2025 as a virtual guide on Albania’s e-Albania platform, helping citizens apply for ID cards, pay taxes, and submit forms. After handling over a million interactions, she became a trusted “face” of digital governance.
Her new role is far more serious. Diella will check all government tenders, detect fraud, and publish contracts openly online. Unlike humans, she cannot be bribed, threatened, or influenced by bias. Her name means “Sun” in Albanian, always shining, never resting.
Supporters believe this bold step will reduce corruption, one of Albania’s biggest barriers to joining the European Union. Critics, however, question whether a non-human minister is constitutional, and warn of risks like hacking, biased data, and lack of transparency.
Globally, Diella’s appointment has sparked debate. While Albania experimented with real AI governance, Japan also announced AI leadership for a political party though only in a symbolic role.
Whether Diella succeeds or fails, Albania has already started a global conversation: Can AI help rebuild trust in politics, or are we placing too much power in machines?
