![Enio Kaso, head of Albania's Department of Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency Licensing, introduces AI 'minister' Diella, in Albania's capital Tirana, on Friday, 12 September, 2025 [Vlasov Sulaj/AP Photo]](https://angelnetworknews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/AP25255541182009-1757698832.jpg "Enio Kaso, head of Albania's Department of Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency Licensing, introduces AI 'minister' Diella, in Albania's capital Tirana, on Friday, 12 September, 2025 [Vlasov Sulaj/AP Photo]")
Albania has appointed an AI-powered virtual assistant named Diella as a “minister” in its new cabinet, charging her with overseeing public procurement and eliminating corruption from government tenders. This groundbreaking move is believed to be the first of its kind globally.
Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced Diella (meaning “sun” in Albanian) as “a member of the cabinet who is not physically present, but virtually created by artificial intelligence.” He stated that the goal is to ensure that all public tenders are fully transparent and “100 percent corruption-free.”
Diella has been operating since January as a virtual assistant on Albania’s e-Albania platform, helping citizens navigate bureaucratic processes and issuing digital documents. To date, she has handled more than 36,600 digital documents and provided nearly 1,000 online services.
Some legal experts and opposition figures, however, have questioned the constitutional legitimacy of appointing a non-human actor to a ministerial role. Concerns also remain about the absence of clear information on human oversight of Diella’s operations.
Albania, population about 2.8 million, has long battled widespread corruption, especially in public procurement. The government sees the AI minister as part of its push to clean up its image and strengthen reforms as it moves toward its goal of EU membership by 2030.
