Albania Appoints AI Bot as Minister to Combat Corruption in Public Procurement

Albania has taken an unprecedented step in its fight against corruption by appointing an AI-generated bot named Diella as a new minister responsible for public procurement. Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is about to begin his fourth term, announced on Thursday that Diella, meaning “sun” in Albanian, will manage and award all public tenders where the government contracts private companies for various projects.

Diella is described as impervious to bribes, threats, or attempts to curry favour, marking a significant departure from traditional ministerial roles. Prime Minister Rama stated during his new cabinet’s unveiling speech that “Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present, but is virtually created by AI“. The aim is to help make Albania “a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption“.

The awarding of public contracts has historically been a significant source of corruption scandals in Albania. Experts describe the Balkan nation as a hub for gangs involved in laundering money from drug and weapons trafficking globally, with graft permeating the corridors of power. This widespread corruption has complicated Albania’s ambitions for accession to the European Union by 2030, a goal political analysts consider ambitious.
However, the government has not yet provided details regarding what human oversight there might be for Diella, nor has it addressed potential risks of the artificial intelligence bot being manipulated.

Prior to this ministerial appointment, Diella was launched earlier this year as an AI-powered virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform. In that capacity, she assisted citizens and businesses in obtaining state documents, providing help through voice commands and issuing documents with electronic stamps while dressed in traditional Albanian attire, thereby reducing bureaucratic delays.

Despite the government’s optimism, public reaction to Diella’s appointment has been mixed. Some Facebook users expressed skepticism, with one commenting, “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania,” and another stating, “Stealing will continue and Diella will be blamed”.

Source: Albania appoints AI bot as minister to tackle corruption