In a global first, Albania has introduced ‘Diella’, an AI-powered virtual minister responsible for overseeing public procurement and promoting transparency in government spending. Diella is not a human minister for AI, but rather an AI-created minister designed to function as part of the Albanian government.
About Diella
- Name Meaning: “Diella” means “Sun” in Albanian.
- Nature: A virtual digital avatar—the only non-human member of the Albanian government.
- Appearance: Portrayed as a female avatar dressed in traditional Albanian attire from Zadrima (a historical region in northern Albania).
- Voice & Likeness: Provided by Albanian actress Anila Bisha (under agreement till December 2025).
- Launch Timeline:
- January 2025: Launch of Diella 1.0 (text-based chatbot on e-Albania portal).
- Mid-2025: Diella 2.0 introduced – added voice interaction and animated avatar.
Functions and Role
- Procurement Oversight: Evaluates and awards all public tenders and contracts between government and private firms.
- Transparency: Ensures 100% clear and corruption-free public spending through automation and audit trails.
- Public Interface:
- Assists citizens on the e-Albania portal, guiding them through online administrative services.
- Processes bureaucratic requests via voice commands.
- Anti-Corruption Measure: Designed to curb bribes, manipulation, and human bias in procurement processes.
- Efficiency:
- Has already processed 36,600+ digital documents and facilitated ~1,000 government services since launch.
- Operates continuously, enhancing digital governance efficiency.
- Recruitment Capability: Can assess tenders and even hire global talents to enhance administrative processes.
Technological Background
- Developed by:
- National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI) – Albania’s digital governance body.
- In collaboration with Microsoft – using OpenAI’s large language models through Microsoft Azure.
- Platform: Integrated within e-Albania – the government’s official digital services platform.
- Architecture:
- AKSHI designed workflows and scripts to guide AI behavior.
- Microsoft provided cloud infrastructure and language model integration.
Significance
- First of its kind globally – symbolizing AI integration directly into governance structures.
- Demonstrates the potential of AI in promoting transparency, efficiency, and accountability.
- Highlights the shift towards digital governance and AI-led administrative systems in Europe.
- Raises questions about AI oversight, security, and ethical accountability in governance.
Concerns & Challenges
- Lack of clarity on human oversight and decision validation.
- Potential cybersecurity threats, data manipulation, or AI misuse in sensitive state functions.
- Debate on legal accountability — whether an AI entity can be held responsible for administrative errors or corruption.
Key Facts
| Topic | Key Facts |
| Country | Republic of Albania, located in Southeastern Europe (Balkans). Capital: Tirana |
| Government Type | Parliamentary Republic |
| President (2025) | Bajram Begaj |
| Prime Minister (2025) | Edi Rama |
| Official Language | Albanian |
| Currency | Albanian Lek (ALL) |
| Digital Governance Platform | e-Albania – central online portal for administrative services |
| AKSHI | Acronym for National Agency for Information Society – oversees Albania’s digital transformation |
| Partner Tech Company | Microsoft Corporation, using OpenAI models via Azure |
| First Country with AI Minister | Albania (2025) |