"Diella, the first cabinet member not physically present but created by AI, will contribute to making Albania a 100% corruption-free country in public procurement," Edi Rama said on 11/9, announcing Diella as the first AI-powered cabinet minister.

Diella, meaning "Sun" in Albanian, has been a virtual assistant advising users on the e-Albania portal since January. It provides voice support to help citizens access 95% of public services digitally. The assistant appears as a woman in traditional attire.

Albanian prime minister Edi Rama in his office in Tirana on 15/5. Photo: AFP

Albanian prime minister Edi Rama in his office in Tirana on 15/5. Photo: AFP

Rama said the selection of winning bidders in public projects will gradually be transferred from ministries to Diella, following a "step-by-step" process, to ensure "all public spending in the bidding process is completely transparent."

Diella will review all contracts the government signs with private companies and objectively assess the value of each contract.

The Albanian prime minister has previously stated that AI is an effective anti-corruption tool that can eliminate bribery and conflicts of interest. Public procurement bidding is the source of many corruption scandals in Albania, which experts consider a hub for criminal gangs laundering money from cross-border arms and drug trafficking.

Albanian media praised the move as "a major shift in how the Albanian government exercises administrative power, turning technology into a tool for active participation in governance."

Hong Hanh (Guardian)