Albania Appoints AI Minister for Public Procurement Transparency

Albania has appointed Diella, an AI-created virtual assistant, as its first digital cabinet minister responsible for public procurement, aiming to eradicate corruption in government contracts. Announced by Prime Minister Edi Rama during his fourth term, Diella will gradually take over tender decision-making from ministries to ensure transparency and reduce bias and bureaucracy. Diella, who already assists citizens on Albania's e-Albania portal, appears as a young woman in traditional dress and is expected to make public tenders 100% incorruptible and legible. While this move marks a pioneering step in digital governance and is part of Albania's broader goal to join the EU by 2030, experts highlight the need for clear legal frameworks, oversight, and accountability to prevent errors or manipulation of AI decisions. Public opinion is mixed, with some skepticism about whether AI can fully eliminate corruption in Albania's historically graft-ridden procurement process. Nonetheless, the government plans to expand AI integration into public administration, balancing automation with human supervision to increase trust and administrative efficiency.