Albania appoints AI bot as public procurement minister

The Albanian government has announced the appointment of an artificial intelligence to the position of minister responsible for public procurement, Reuters reports.

The new digital official, named Diella, was introduced by Prime Minister Edi Rama during the presentation of the new government. According to Rama, Diella does not have a physical presence, but is a full-fledged member of the cabinet, created on the basis of artificial intelligence. The bot's main task will be to administer tenders, within the framework of which the state concludes contracts with private companies.

Diella's appointment was a response to years of corruption scandals in Albania, which is linked to public procurement. This country, according to experts, is a hotbed of organized crime groups that launder money from drug and arms trafficking. This image complicates Albania's integration process into the European Union, which Prime Minister Rama plans to complete by 2030.

Diella, which means "sun" in Albanian, previously operated as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform. She helped citizens and businesses obtain government documents using voice commands and electronic seals. Her interface is designed in the style of traditional Albanian clothing.

The Albanian government has not specified what level of human control will be applied to Diella, nor what risks there are of its possible manipulation by humans.