Albania’s prime minister appoints an AI-generated ‘minister’ to tackle corruption

- A new minister in Albania charged to handle public procurement will be impervious to bribes, threats, or attempts to curry favour. That is because Diella, as she is called, is an AI-generated bot.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is about to begin his fourth term, said on Thursday that Diella, which means "sun" in Albanian, will manage and award all public tenders in which the government contracts private companies for various projects.

“Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present, but is virtually created by AI,” Rama said during a speech unveiling his new cabinet. She will help make Albania "a country where public tenders are 100% free of corruption."

The awarding of such contracts has long been a source of corruption scandals in Albania, a Balkan country that experts say is a hub for gangs seeking to launder their money from trafficking drugs and weapons across the world, and where graft has reached the corridors of power.

That image has complicated Albania's accession to the European Union, which Rama wants to achieve by 2030 but which political analysts say is ambitious.

The government did not provide details of what human oversight there might be for Diella, or address risks that someone could manipulate the artificial intelligence bot.

Diella originally launched early this year as an AI-powered virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, helping citizens and businesses obtain state documents. Dressed in traditional Albanian attire, she provides assistance through voice commands and issues documents with electronic stamps, reducing bureaucratic delays.

Not everyone is convinced. One Facebook user said: "Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania." Another said: "Stealing will continue and Diella will be blamed."
The new parliament, elected in May, is scheduled to convene on Friday, though it remains unclear if the government will be voted on the same day.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/technology/albania-appoints-ai-bot-minister-tackle-corruption-2025-09-11/

Comprehension

Who is Diella, and what makes her different from other government ministers?
What is Diella’s main responsibility in the Albanian government?
Why did Prime Minister Edi Rama decide to introduce Diella?
What problem has Albania faced with public tenders in the past?
Why is Albania’s corruption problem a concern for the country’s European Union membership?
What was Diella originally designed to do before becoming a minister?
How does Diella help citizens on the e-Albania platform?
What are some of the public reactions to Diella’s appointment?

Discussion

What do you think about the idea of using AI to prevent corruption?
Do you believe an AI can really be “impervious to bribes”? Why or why not?
What are some possible advantages of having AI manage government projects?
What could be the risks of letting AI make important decisions?
How might Diella’s role change people’s trust in the Albanian government?
Do you think other countries should use AI in politics or government work?
How would you feel about interacting with an AI government official?
Why might people still be skeptical about Diella’s honesty or reliability?
What other areas of government could benefit from using AI?
Do you think AI should ever replace human leaders? Why or why not?

Vocabulary

Impervious – not affected or influenced by something.
Bribe – money or a gift given to someone to influence their actions unfairly.
Curry favor – to try to gain someone’s approval by giving them praise or attention.
Tender – a formal offer to do work or supply goods for an agreed price.
Corruption – dishonest or illegal behavior, especially by people in power.
Oversight – supervision or control to make sure something is done correctly.
Bureaucratic – involving complicated official rules or paperwork.
Skeptical – doubting or not easily convinced that something is true.