Albania has unveiled a new minister unlike any other: an artificial intelligence bot named Diella, tasked with handling all public procurement in the country.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is about to begin his fourth term, announced the appointment on Thursday, saying Diella—whose name means “sun” in Albanian—would be immune to “bribes, threats, or attempts to curry favour.”

“Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present, but is virtually created by AI,” Rama said while presenting his new cabinet. He added that she will help make Albania “a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption.”

The awarding of public contracts has long been at the centre of corruption scandals in Albania, a Balkan nation often described by experts as a hub for criminal gangs laundering proceeds from drug and arms trafficking. Graft has extended into politics, complicating Albania’s bid to join the European Union by 2030—a target analysts have described as ambitious.

The government has not yet clarified how much human oversight will accompany Diella’s work, nor how it will prevent manipulation of the AI system.

Diella was first launched earlier this year on the e-Albania platform as a virtual assistant to help citizens and businesses obtain state documents. Dressed in traditional Albanian attire, she responds to voice commands and issues electronically stamped documents, reducing bureaucratic delays.

However, public reactions remain sceptical. “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania,” one Facebook user wrote. Another added: “Stealing will continue and Diella will be blamed.”

The new parliament, elected in May, is scheduled to convene on Friday, though it remains unclear if Rama’s new cabinet will face a vote the same day.

Boluwatife Enome

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