Albania has broken new ground on the global stage by appointing an artificial intelligence system, known as Diella, as the world's first AI minister.
Get this right, this is not a Minister for AI, but a minister by AI. She is now "Minister for Public Procurements" of Albania, making it the first AI system in the world to hold a cabinet-level government role.
Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the appointment, describing it as a decisive step to tackle corruption in public procurement.
Diella, whose name translates to "sun" in Albanian was developed by the National Agency for Information Society (AKSHI).
She was first introduced earlier this year as a digital assistant on the government's e-Albania portal.
Her role was to guide citizens through bureaucratic processes, issue digitally stamped documents, and streamline access to nearly a thousand online services.
In just a few months, Diella became a fixture in everyday governance, processing tens of thousands of requests.
Now, her responsibilities have expanded dramatically. As Minister for Public Procurement, Diella is tasked with overseeing the awarding of government tenders, ensuring contracts are allocated with efficiency, transparency, and free from human bias.
"We're working with a brilliant team, which is not only Albanian but also international, to come out with the first full AI model in public procurement," the prime minister told the BBC.
"Not only will we wipe out every potential influence on public biddings - we will also make the process much faster, much more efficient and totally accountable."
Diella's appointment has not been without controversy. Critics question the constitutional legitimacy of giving ministerial authority to an AI system.
Opposition politicians argue that governance requires accountability, something an algorithm cannot provide.
According to news Outlet BBC, anti-corruption experts have also noted the potential for AI to be deployed to minimise graft.
"AI is still a new tool - but if it is programmed correctly, when you put a bid in online, you can see clearly and more closely if a company meets the conditions and the criteria," says Dr Andi Hoxhaj of King's College London, a specialist in the Western Balkans, corruption and the rule of law.
