Albania has introduced the world’s first artificial intelligence-generated government minister. Prime Minister Edi Rama announced that the AI, named Diella — meaning “sun” in Albanian — will oversee all aspects of public procurement, the process by which governments purchase goods, services, or works from private companies.
Represented as a woman in traditional Albanian attire, Diella is a virtual creation, not a physical presence, and will gradually take over tender-related responsibilities from ministries in a step-by-step process. The decision was presented during the unveiling of Rama’s new cabinet, following his Socialist Party’s election victory in May 2025, which secured him a fourth term in office.
According to Rama, the AI will ensure that every contract and public fund in the procurement process is transparent, incorruptible, and fully traceable.
Corruption in Albania has long been highlighted in rule of law reports, with the country ranking 80th out of 180 in Transparency International’s 2024 index. The European Union has emphasized that strengthening transparency, accountability, and judicial independence is essential for accession, noting public procurement as one of the most vulnerable areas to misuse of funds and favoritism. By delegating procurement management to an AI system, the government aims to demonstrate tangible progress in reducing corruption risks, intending both to rebuild public trust domestically and to signal to Brussels Albania’s readiness to join the European Union by 2030.
If successful, it could become a case study in how technology can support governance reforms in EU candidate countries.