Albania has made history by appointing the world's first artificial intelligence (AI) government minister, Diella, to tackle corruption and bring transparency to public spending. Diella, which means "sun" in Albanian, symbolizing hope and transparency, will oversee all public tenders involving private contractors on government projects. The AI system aims to eliminate human bias, prevent quid pro quo arrangements, and reduce the risk of manipulation in state contracts.
Diella was initially launched in January 2025 as a voice assistant on the e-Albania platform, guiding citizens through government services. Since its launch, it has processed over 36,000 digital documents and delivered close to 1,000 services to citizens. Now, Diella's role has been expanded to manage decisions related to government contracts and public tenders, with the goal of ensuring 100% corruption-free public spending with full transparency.
The appointment of Diella is seen as a bold move by the Albanian government to strengthen its bid to join the European Union, which requires cracking down on corruption. While experts praise the initiative, they also warn that AI systems can be manipulated if not properly safeguarded. It remains unclear whether human oversight will accompany Diella's decisions.
By leveraging AI technology, Albania is taking a pioneering approach to address corruption and promote transparency in governance. The success of Diella will be closely watched, and its impact could have far-reaching implications for the use of AI in government decision-making.
