In a world first, Albania has appointed an artificial intelligence system, known as Diella, to serve as a minister-level authority in government. The move, announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama on September 11, 2025, gives Diella oversight of public procurement — a sector long plagued by corruption in the Balkan state.
The appointment marks a bold experiment in entrusting a non-human entity with one of the most sensitive government functions in a country where corruption has remained a stumbling block to development and a barrier to European Union membership.
Diella is a virtual assistant first introduced in January 2025 on Albania’s e-Albania platform. Initially designed to help citizens navigate public services and access documents online, she quickly became a familiar digital presence. The name Diella means “sun” in Albanian, and her creators envisioned her as a symbol of transparency and light in governance.
Now, less than a year later, Diella has been elevated to the role of Minister for Public Procurement. The prime minister emphasized that the decision was motivated by the need to eliminate human bias and ensure tenders are handled “100% free of corruption.”
By handing oversight to an AI system, the government hopes to cut off opportunities for manipulation. The expectation is that algorithms can assess bids on merit, enforce criteria consistently, and create a digital trail that is less susceptible to backroom deals.
For advocates, Diella represents a turning point. Transparency activists argue that by digitizing and automating tender evaluation, Albania can demonstrate to its citizens — and to Brussels — that it is serious about reform.
Experts also see practical benefits. With AI handling vast amounts of data, irregularities in bids or patterns of favoritism could be flagged faster than a human team might manage. Supporters believe this could deter corruption before it happens.
There is also a symbolic angle. Albania has been pushing to join the European Union, with accession talks linked to meeting governance and anti-corruption standards. Diella’s appointment signifies that the country is willing to innovate in order to meet those benchmarks.
Yet the move has sparked significant controversy. Opposition parties immediately questioned the legality of appointing a non-human minister, calling it unconstitutional. Human rights advocates and legal experts warn that citizens could find themselves with no clear avenue to challenge procurement decisions if those decisions are made by an AI rather than a person.
There are also concerns about oversight. While Prime Minister Rama insists Diella will work under human supervision, critics want details on how transparent the algorithms will be, who audits them, and what safeguards exist against manipulation or hacking.
While designed to reduce human bias, AI systems are not free from flaws. The quality of Diella’s decisions will depend heavily on the data she is trained on and the rules programmed into her. If the system reflects flawed assumptions, outdated data, or hidden biases, procurement could still be distorted — only this time under the guise of digital neutrality.
Moreover, technical vulnerabilities pose another risk. Cybersecurity experts stress that procurement systems are lucrative targets for hackers, and an AI minister could face attempts at manipulation on a sophisticated scale. Without robust protection, Diella’s decisions might be compromised.
Despite criticism, Albania’s appointment of Diella has drawn global attention. International outlets from Reuters to Al Jazeera have described the move as unprecedented, raising the prospect that other governments might experiment with AI in decision-making roles.
If Diella successfully increases transparency and reduces corruption, it could inspire similar projects elsewhere. If she fails, the fallout could reinforce skepticism about using AI in government.
For now, the government insists that Diella’s role does not eliminate human responsibility. Ministers and officials will still oversee the broader procurement process, while the AI handles evaluation and monitoring.
