Albania is ushering in a new era of governance with the appointment of Diella, an artificial intelligence-powered bot, as its minister responsible for public procurement. This initiative, introduced by Prime Minister Edi Rama, aims to combat deep-seated corruption and enhance transparency in government contracts.
Diella, whose name signifies 'sun' in the Albanian language, represents a significant stride towards a more technologically integrated public sector, marking the first instance of a virtual member within a national cabinet. Prime Minister Rama envisions Diella as a key player in streamlining government operations, suggesting that artificial intelligence could soon become the most efficient government member. Diella's primary function will be to manage and award all public tenders, a process historically plagued by human bias, corruption, and manipulation, which has hindered Albania's aspirations for European Union membership.
By entrusting these critical functions to an AI, Albania seeks to ensure impartiality and integrity in its public procurement processes. Previously serving as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, Diella's transition to a ministerial role signifies a broader commitment to integrating AI into public services. The nation's commitment to tackling corruption is underscored by its ongoing efforts to align with EU accession requirements. Albania, which became an EU candidate country in 2014 and began accession negotiations in July 2022, has faced scrutiny over its progress in combating corruption.
Transparency International has highlighted corruption as a significant obstacle, with Albania scoring 42 points on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, ranking 80th out of 180 countries. This score indicates a perceived level of public sector corruption, where a higher score signifies a cleaner public sector.
While the initiative has been lauded as innovative, it has also ignited public debate and skepticism. Concerns have been raised regarding the AI's capacity to resist sophisticated manipulation and the specifics of human oversight or safeguards. The effectiveness of AI in governance is a growing global discussion, with experts emphasizing the need for robust regulatory frameworks, explainable AI, and measures to mitigate algorithmic bias to ensure responsible adoption.
As Albania's newly elected parliament convenes on September 12, 2025, the nation stands at a pivotal moment, exploring the potential of AI to foster greater integrity and efficiency in public administration, while navigating the inherent complexities and public perception of such advanced technological integration.