Albania has appointed an artificial intelligence system named Diella as a cabinet-level “minister” to supervise the nation’s public procurement sector, aiming to tackle long-standing corruption.

Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled Diella—meaning “Sun” in Albanian—during his Socialist Party conference in Tirana on Thursday while presenting the lineup of his fourth consecutive government. Rama described the AI as “the first cabinet member who is not physically present, but has been virtually created by AI”, highlighting its role as the government’s “servant of public procurement.”

Since January, Diella has assisted citizens on the e-Albania portal, guiding users through approximately 95% of online government services, including tax payments and license renewals. Now, its mandate has expanded into the political sphere, overseeing public tenders—a process historically vulnerable to corruption, manipulation by influential figures, and even criminal networks.

Under a phased implementation plan, Diella will assume decision-making authority for tenders, evaluating bids objectively and ensuring transparent outcomes. “Our goal is that all public spending in the tender process becomes 100% clear,” Rama stated, pledging to eliminate bribes, threats, and conflicts of interest.

The initiative is considered one of Europe’s boldest experiments in integrating AI into political decision-making. Albanian media have described it as “a major transformation in the way the state conceives and exercises administrative power.” Supporters hail it as a revolutionary step to modernize governance and restore public trust in a country long plagued by corruption scandals.

Critics, however, caution that delegating core government functions to an algorithm raises concerns over accountability, transparency, and ethical boundaries. As Albania ventures into this uncharted territory, global observers are closely watching to see whether Diella can deliver on its promise to reform public procurement and potentially set a precedent for AI-driven governance. (ILKHA)