Albania's prime minister appoints an AI-generated 'minister' to tackle corruption

Albania’s prime minister has appointed an artificial intelligence-generated “minister” to tackle corruption and promote innovation in his new cabinet.

The new AI minister, officially named Diella - the female form of the word for sun in the Albanian language - was appointed on Friday and is a virtual entity.

Diella will be a "member of the cabinet who is not present physically but has been created virtually," Prime Minister Edi Rama said in a post on Facebook.

Mr Rama said the AI-generated bot would help ensure that "public tenders are completely free of corruption" and assist the government in operating more efficiently and transparently.

Diella uses the latest AI models and methods to ensure accuracy in carrying out its assigned responsibilities, according to the website of Albania's National Agency for Information Society.

Diella, portrayed wearing a traditional Albanian folk costume, was developed earlier this year in partnership with Microsoft. She serves as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania public service platform, helping users navigate the site and access around one million digital inquiries and documents.

Mr Rama's Socialist Party won a fourth straight term by securing 83 out of 140 seats in the parliamentary elections in May.

With this majority, the party can govern independently and pass most laws, though it falls short of the 93-seat threshold required to amend the Constitution.

The Socialists have pledged to secure European Union membership for Albania within five years, aiming to complete negotiations by 2027 - a claim met with scepticism by the Democratic opposition, who argue the country is not ready.

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The Western Balkan country began full EU membership negotiations a year ago. The incoming government now faces key challenges, including tackling organized crime and long-standing corruption - issues that have persisted since the end of communist rule in 1990.

Diella is also expected to support local authorities in accelerating reforms and aligning with EU standards.

President Bajram Begaj has tasked Prime Minister Rama with forming the new government, a move analysts say grants him the authority to establish and implement the AI-powered assistant Diella.