16/09/2025
Albania has indeed appointed an AI-generated robot minister named Diella to tackle corruption in public procurement. Diella, which means "sun" in Albanian, is designed to manage and award public tenders, insulating the process from bribery, lobbying, and intimidation. This innovative approach aims to make Albania's public procurement process 100% corruption-free, which is a key criterion for the country's bid to join the European Union.
*Key Features of Diella:*
- *Virtual Presence*: Diella is a virtually created minister, not physically present, but interacts through voice commands and digital platforms.
- *Public Procurement*: Diella will oversee public tenders and contracts, ensuring transparency and eliminating human interference.
- *Previous Role*: Diella was previously a virtual assistant on Albania's e-government platform, helping citizens access official documents and issuing digital documents with electronic stamps.
- *Potential Impact*: By automating public procurement, Albania aims to reduce bureaucratic delays and close loopholes that enabled graft in state contracts.¹ ²
However, some experts have raised concerns about the lack of human oversight and potential risks of tampering with the AI system. Additionally, there are questions about Diella's ministerial status and whether it complies with Albanian laws and regulations.³
