World’s First ‘AI Minister’ Launched in Albania

In a development that sounds like science fiction, a virtual AI bot has been appointed as a minister in the small European nation of Albania.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama included the AI-based bot in his new cabinet. The bot has been named Diela, meaning “woman of the sun” in Albanian. Diela was formally introduced on Thursday, 11 September 2025.

However, according to the Albanian constitution, a minister must be at least 18 years old and a mentally competent citizen. Since Diela does not meet these criteria, the appointment is symbolic rather than official.

Prime Minister Rama emphasised that Diela lacks personal desires, greed, or ambition. Unlike human ministers, the AI bot has no attraction to money or power. Operating purely on electricity, Diela is unlikely to engage in corruption.

The primary goal is to curb corruption in government procurement and tender processes. To achieve this, an international team of experts has developed the world’s first full-scale AI model designed to ensure transparency and efficiency in Albanian government transactions.

Even before being appointed, Diela was active in public service, assisting citizens with government paperwork and processing more than 1 million applications through the e-Albania platform as a virtual assistant.

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions within the country:

• Critics argue that the appointment is “unconstitutional and absurd”.
• Some believe it is a publicity stunt by Prime Minister Rama.
• Experts, however, note that if Diela truly brings speed and transparency to government operations, it could be a significant positive change for Albania.

Prime Minister Rama is optimistic that this initiative will help Albania join the European Union by 2027.

Sources: Reuters, BBC, NBC News