Albania has become the first country in the world to appoint a virtual minister created by artificial intelligence.
"Her name is Diella, which means sun in Albanian, and she will be responsible for all public procurement," Prime Minister Edi Rama said today.
At the Socialist Party assembly in Tirana, where Rama announced which ministers would be leaving and which would stay for another term, he also introduced Diella, the only "non-member" member of the government.
"Diella is the first member who is not physically present, but virtually created by artificial intelligence," he told party members.
Rama stated that decisions on tenders would be made "by the ministries" and placed in the hands of Diella, which is a "public procurement servant", writes "KosovaPress".
He said the process will be “step by step,” but Albania will be a country where public tenders are “100 percent uncorrupted and where every public fund that goes through the tender procedure is 100 percent legible.”
"This is not science fiction, but the duty of the Sun," the Prime Minister emphasized.
Diella has already been introduced to Albanian citizens as she powers the country's e-Albania platform, which allows citizens to access almost all government services digitally. She even has an avatar, appearing as a young woman dressed in traditional Albanian clothing.
Diella will evaluate the tenders and will have the right to "employ talent here from all over the world", while breaking "the fear of prejudice and the rigidity of the administration".