Albania has taken an unprecedented step by formally introducing an artificial intelligence system named Diella as part of its government, marking one of the first global attempts to integrate AI into cabinet-level operations.
The move, announced on Friday by Prime Minister Edi Rama, has attracted both praise and sharp criticism over its implications for governance, accountability, and constitutional order.
The digital minister was approved by a parliamentary vote dominated by Rama’s Socialist Party, despite vocal objections from opposition lawmakers.
While Diella does not appear on President Bajram Begaj’s official cabinet list, a supporting government document confirms that the Prime Minister has been tasked with overseeing the creation and management of the new virtual post: the “Minister for Artificial Intelligence.”
Diella, whose name means sun in Albanian, is not a human minister but an advanced AI system originally deployed as a chatbot on government websites.
In its new role, it has been reintroduced with a visual avatar modelled after actress Anila Bisha, dressed in traditional Albanian attire.
During the parliamentary session, Diella even addressed lawmakers via video, introducing herself as the “state minister for artificial intelligence” and promising to support daily government operations.
Prime Minister Rama framed the initiative as a groundbreaking effort to modernize public administration, reduce corruption, and transform government institutions into platforms for AI-driven innovation.
He emphasized that Diella would connect Albania’s brightest local talents, experts in the diaspora, and foreign specialists to build a more efficient governance framework.
Despite the optimism, the move has triggered intense criticism. Opposition leader Gazment Bardhi denounced the AI appointment as a propaganda stunt aimed at distracting from allegations of corruption within Rama’s administration.
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He argued that the decision violates the Albanian constitution, which stipulates that ministers must be Albanian citizens, of legal age, and mentally fit—criteria that no artificial intelligence could meet.
Technology experts have also expressed reservations. Erjon Curraj, an IT specialist writing in Balkan Insight, acknowledged that AI could be valuable in areas such as public procurement but warned that ultimate accountability for government decisions must remain with humans.
Allowing an AI to take part in administrative decision-making, he cautioned, risks blurring responsibility and undermining democratic oversight.
The controversy highlights a broader global debate about how far governments should go in adopting artificial intelligence in public service delivery.
While Albania’s experiment is being touted by some as a bold step into the future of digital governance, critics argue it could erode transparency and provide cover for entrenched political interests.
For now, Diella’s role remains largely advisory and operational, with Prime Minister Rama retaining ultimate authority.
However, its formal induction into the cabinet signals Albania’s willingness to test the boundaries of technology in governance, even at the cost of political turbulence.
Whether Diella will deliver meaningful reforms or remain a symbolic innovation remains to be seen, but the development has already placed Albania at the forefront of global conversations on the role of AI in government.
NAN
