Albania has appointed an artificial intelligence (AI) minister to its new cabinet, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced.
The AI minister, named ‘Diela’—meaning “sun” in Albanian—is not physically present but is considered a member of a cabinet “practically created by artificial intelligence,” according to Rama. Diela’s responsibilities include overseeing public funding projects and combating corruption in public tenders, with the aim of ensuring they remain 100% free of malpractice.
Diela, dressed in traditional Albanian folk costume, was first introduced earlier this year as a digital assistant on the government’s e-Albania public services platform. Since then, she has helped citizens navigate the website and access more than a million digital documents.
Albania, which has been negotiating European Union membership for a year, continues to face challenges with organized crime and corruption—long-standing issues since the collapse of communist rule in 1990.
Authorities say Diela will also support local administrations in accelerating governance reforms and adapting to new digital systems.
