Albanias government debuts its AI ‘minister’ to parliament

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — The Albanian parliament witnessed a historic moment on Thursday as Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced an AI-generated minister during a session aimed at promoting governmental transparency and innovation. The bot, named Diella—meaning 'sun' in Albanian—was presented as a virtual avatar representing the state's commitment to accountability and non-discriminatory service. In a three-minute address broadcast on large screens, Diella proclaimed, "The Constitution speaks of institutions at the people's service. It doesn’t speak of chromosomes, of flesh or blood." The AI persona emphasized its dedication to embodying the values of duty and transparency, asserting that it may even uphold these principles more rigorously than its human counterparts. Rama highlighted Diella's role in enhancing governmental efficiency and transparency, positioning it as a pivotal part of Albania's strategy to showcase its technological advancements as it aspires to join the European Union by 2030. However, the introduction of the AI minister was met with backlash from opposition lawmakers, who viewed it as a potential tool for governmental corruption. Their protests led to a quick conclusion of the debate, which lasted just 25 minutes, despite the Cabinet’s program passing with 82 votes in the 140-seat parliament. While the opposition did not specify how they believed Diella could facilitate corruption, they staged a boycott of the voting process, underscoring their skepticism. Diella was developed in collaboration with Microsoft earlier this year, serving as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania public service platform, aiding users in accessing nearly 1 million digital inquiries and documents. In its address, Diella asserted, "I am not here to replace people but to help them. True, I have no citizenship, but I have no personal ambition or interests either." This unprecedented development marks a significant step in the intersection of technology and governance in Albania.