Albania Puts AI ‘Minister’ in Charge of Public Procurement

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has appointed Diella, an AI-powered digital assistant on the state’s e-Albania portal, as his virtual cabinet minister for public procurement. Launched in January to guide citizens through bureaucratic tasks via voice commands, Diella, portrayed in traditional dress, will now oversee government tenders in a phased transfer of authority from ministries to AI. Rama says this move will render Albania’s public contracting “100% free of corruption” by objectively evaluating bids and eliminating human bias, bribery, and conflicts of interest. Public tenders have long fueled graft scandals and money laundering in Albania. Media outlets described Diella’s promotion as a transformative step that positions technology not just as a tool, but as an active participant in governance.

The Guardian, Jon Henley – Albania puts AI-created ‘minister’ in charge of public procurement – 11th September 2025