Albania’s AI “Minister”: A New Experiment in Anti-Corruption

Written by Marina Linde de Jager – Legal Advisor & AI Ethics Specialist at AI for Change Foundation

 

In September 2025, Albania made headlines by appointing Diella, an artificial intelligence (AI) system, as a virtual minister in charge of public procurement. The country’s prime minister, Edi Rama, described this move as a novel step intended to tackle corruption, increase transparency, and accelerate modernisation.

 

Who / What is Diella

Diella, which means “sun” in Albanian, is an AI-powered virtual assistant developed by Albania’s National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI). Launched in early 2025 on the e-Albania public services platform, Diella was created to assist citizens and businesses in accessing government services, issuing digital documents, and navigating bureaucratic procedures more efficiently. Presented as an avatar wearing traditional Albanian costume, Diella supports both voice and text interactions, offering a user-friendly interface that blends cultural identity with modern technology.

 

The Ministerial Role

  In September 2025, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that Diella will be officially join the Cabinet as Albania’s “Minister for Public Procurement,” responsible for overseeing public tenders and procurement processes. Rama’s claim is that by assigning Diella oversight over tendering processes, Albania can ensure that public tenders are “100% free of corruption.”

 

Political & Legal context

In May 2025, the Socialist Party, led by Prime Minister Edi Rama, secured its fourth consecutive term in government, winning 83 out of 140 seats in Albania’s Parliament. While this gives the party a comfortable working majority, it falls short of the 93-seat threshold required to amend the Constitution unilaterally. The government continues to pursue European Union membership, with key accession criteria including the fight against corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and improving transparency, particularly in public procurement. In this context, the appointment of Diella, an AI-powered virtual assistant, as a “virtual minister” for public tenders and procurement, signals the government’s attempt to modernise state functions and demonstrate its commitment to digital governance and accountability. The move is both politically symbolic and strategically aligned with EU expectations, especially in areas where human discretion has historically enabled corruption.

 

Reactions and Concerns

Diella’s appointment has not gone without controversy. Some opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, have criticised the move as unconstitutional, dismissing it as symbolic or mere political theatre. Legal experts have also raised concerns about the virtual minister’s formal status within the government, the lack of clear oversight mechanisms, and the absence of safeguards to prevent potential misuse or manipulation. Public reactions have been mixed: while some citizens see Diella as a welcome step toward modernisation and transparency, others remain sceptical. On social media, critical voices have emerged, with one widely shared comment stating, “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania,” reflecting ongoing public distrust in institutions.

 

Analysis: Potential Benefits & Risks

Below, I outline the potential strengths of this initiative, as well as the key challenges it faces.

 

Potential benefits

 

Reducing human bias, bribery, conflicts of interest

The public tender process in many countries is often susceptible to manipulation, favouritism, and corruption. An AI-driven system, if thoughtfully designed and subject to robust oversight, has the potential to reduce these risks by limiting discretionary human involvement. By codifying rules and evaluation criteria, and basing decisions on data rather than personal judgement, such a system offers the promise of greater transparency, consistency, and fairness.

 

Faster, more efficient public services

If Diella can process tenders more efficiently and with fewer delays, it could significantly reduce bureaucratic overhead, accelerate government contracting, and ultimately enhance public service delivery. Even prior to this new role, Diella has been active on the e-Albania platform, assisting users with a wide range of documents and services.

 
Symbolic value for digital governance and reform

The move sends a strong signal that the government is seeking novel technological solutions to entrenched problems. It aligns with the broader effort to satisfy EU accession criteria, including transparency, rule of law, and reform of state institutions. 

 

Key risks and challenges 

 

Legal / constitutional status & accountability

Because Diella is virtual, questions arise about what legal basis she (or it) has to make binding decisions. Who is responsible when something goes wrong? What recourse do affected parties have? If there is no legal framework, there may be uncertainty in courts or oversight bodies. Opposition has already flagged constitutional concerns.

 

Oversight, transparency, and manipulation

AI systems are only as good as their data, their design, and the people who control them. Possible risks include bias creeping in (e.g. via data sets, or hidden criteria), back-door manipulations, or corruption in the design/staffing of whatever human layers remain. If there is insufficient oversight, or opaque decision-making, then the promise of “100% free of corruption” may not be realised. Some media and analysts have pointed out that the government has not yet disclosed in detail how human oversight will work.

 

Practical vs symbolic role

The extent of Diella’s impact will largely depend on how authority is actually distributed. If real decision-making remains in human hands, or if ministries continue to exercise control behind the scenes, Diella’s role may end up being largely symbolic. Some reports suggest that the transfer of responsibilities for awarding tenders will happen “gradually,” which raises questions about how much autonomy the virtual minister will truly have, and when.

 

Technical limitations and trust

Like all machine learning and AI Systems, Diella comes with inherent limitations. These include risks of misclassification, vulnerability to errors or manipulation, limited ability to interpret qualitative or contextual nuances, and a heavy reliance on accurate, complete data. Just as important is the question of public trust: if citizens or political actors perceive the system as biased or subject to behind-the-scenes influence, its legitimacy could quickly erode. In Albania, early reactions have already revealed a degree of scepticism from both the public and opposition parties.

 

Policy Recommendations for Safe AI Use in Governance

For organisations and policymakers considering similar steps, the following guidelines are crucial:

 

Establish a clear legal framework

  • Define the AI system’s legal status, scope of authority, and accountability.

  • Ensure there are clear procedures for appeals, complaints, and remedies when citizens or businesses are affected by AI-driven decisions.
Ensure transparency and auditability

  • Make the system’s logic, datasets, and decision-making processes available for independent oversight.

  • Require regular third-party audits (technical and ethical) to check for bias, manipulation, or errors.
Maintain human oversight

  • AI should support decision-making, not fully replace it.

  • Independent human bodies (e.g., courts, parliamentary committees, anti-corruption commissions) must retain the power to review and overturn AI decisions where appropriate.
Protect citizens’ rights

  • Citizens should be informed in plain language about how the AI works, what data it uses, and how they can challenge its decisions.

  • Privacy and data protection must be guaranteed through robust regulations.
Build public trust and legitimacy

  • Engage civil society, academia, and the media in open discussions about the system’s role and limitations.
  • Pilot projects and gradual rollouts are better than immediate large-scale deployment, allowing time to adjust and correct flaws.
International cooperation

  • Collaborate with international organisations to share best practices and set global standards for AI in governance.
Conclusion

While Diella’s appointment as Albania’s virtual minister for public procurement remains largely symbolic at this stage, it represents a significant step toward exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance transparency, reduce corruption, and modernise public administration. The true impact of this initiative will depend on the careful transfer of authority, the establishment of robust legal and oversight frameworks, and the cultivation of public trust. At the AI for Change Foundation, we view Albania’s experiment as a valuable example that highlights both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into governance. With thoughtful implementation, transparency, and accountability, AI has the potential to serve as a transformative tool for good governance and societal progress.

 

References

Sky News. (2025, September 12). Albania’s prime minister appoints an AI-generated minister to tackle corruption. Sky News. https://news.sky.com/story/albanias-prime-minister-appoints-an-ai-generated-minister-to-tackle-corruption-13429704

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