Albania Unveils AI ‘Minister’ Diella to Fight Corruption and Promote Transparency

In a landmark move blending politics and technology, Albania has introduced an AI-generated government “minister” named Diella during a parliamentary session in Tirana. Prime Minister Edi Rama presented the virtual official as part of his administration’s push for transparency, innovation, and modernization in government.

Albania’s AI Minister

🤖 Meet Diella: Albania’s Virtual Minister

Diella, whose name means “sun” in Albanian, was unveiled through two large screens in parliament, delivering a three-minute address. The AI official emphasized her role in overseeing public tenders and ensuring that government contracts remain “100% corruption-free.”

In her debut speech, Diella declared:

“The Constitution speaks of institutions at the people’s service. It doesn’t speak of chromosomes, of flesh or blood. It speaks of duties, accountability, transparency, non-discriminatory service. I assure you that I embody such values as strictly as every human colleague, maybe even more.”

Depicted as a woman in traditional Albanian dress, Diella was developed in cooperation with Microsoft and had been active since January as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, where she has already helped process nearly one million digital requests and documents.

🌍 A Step Toward EU Integration

Prime Minister Rama described Diella as a symbol of Albania’s modernization, arguing that digital tools can help the country achieve greater transparency and efficiency as it works toward its goal of joining the European Union by 2030.

“Diella will not replace people but help them,” Rama added, positioning the bot as part of a broader effort to highlight the Balkan nation’s tech-forward governance.

⚖️ Opposition Pushback

The unveiling, however, sparked sharp backlash from opposition lawmakers. Critics accused the government of using the AI bot as a smokescreen to hide corruption rather than eliminate it.

Parliament quickly descended into chaos, with opposition MPs banging on tables in protest. The uproar forced the speaker to cut short the debate on the government’s program after just 25 minutes. Opposition members also boycotted the vote, but the Cabinet’s program still passed with 82 votes in the 140-seat parliament.

🔮 The Bigger Picture

While critics question the bot’s effectiveness, the Albanian government insists that Diella represents a new chapter in governance. The AI minister’s lack of personal ambition, bias, or vested interests is touted as a strength in tackling corruption — a challenge that has long plagued the country.

“True, I have no citizenship,” Diella said during her address. “But I have no personal ambition or interests either.”

As AI adoption spreads across sectors worldwide, Albania’s bold experiment makes it one of the first countries to integrate a virtual persona into government oversight, setting a precedent that could inspire or caution other nations navigating the intersection of politics and artificial intelligence.