Albania has appointed its first artificial intelligence–generated minister, who will oversee public procurement and, according to Prime Minister Edi Rama, will be “immune to bribery, threats, or attempts to gain favors.”
The international news agency Reuters reported that Diella—whose name means “sun” in Albanian—is part of Rama’s new government, which marks the start of his fourth term.
“Diella is the first member of the cabinet who is not physically present but has been created virtually through Artificial Intelligence,” Rama stated during the presentation of the new cabinet.
Diella will manage and approve all public tenders where the government contracts with private companies for infrastructure and other projects.
The Albanian Prime Minister emphasized that the goal is for Albania to become a country where public tenders are 100% free from corruption.
Reuters notes that awarding public contracts in Albania has long been a source of corruption scandals, in a country described as a hub for criminal groups seeking to launder money from drug and arms trafficking.
“This reputation has complicated Albania’s accession to the European Union, which Rama aims to achieve by 2030, though political analysts describe this as ambitious,” Reuters adds.
