Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on Thursday that he has appointed the world’s first artificial intelligence–driven government minister, tasked with overseeing public tenders. Rama pledged that the new system would make the process entirely “corruption-free.”

Presenting his cabinet after a sweeping electoral victory in May, Rama introduced the unconventional “minister” named Diella—meaning sun in Albanian.

“Diella is the first cabinet member who exists not in physical form, but as an advanced virtual creation powered by artificial intelligence,” Rama told his Socialist Party. He emphasized that Diella will handle all decisions on public procurement, ensuring “100 percent transparency and eliminating every possibility of corruption in the use of public funds.”

Launched earlier this year, Diella initially served as an AI-powered assistant for Albania’s official e-Albania portal, helping citizens access state services. Designed as a virtual figure wearing traditional Albanian attire, the system has already facilitated over 36,600 digital documents and nearly 1,000 online services, according to government statistics.

Rama, who secured a fourth consecutive term in office, is preparing to formally present his new cabinet to parliament in the coming days. His administration has long highlighted the fight against corruption—especially within public administration—as central to Albania’s ambition of joining the European Union by 2030.

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By embedding AI into governance, Rama aims to portray Albania as a pioneer in transparent administration, signaling both a symbolic and practical step forward in the nation’s modernization and EU accession drive.