For most government officials, being called “heartless” is an insult. But in Albania, Prime Minister Edi Rama has turned the phrase into an asset, unveiling the world’s first AI “minister.”

Not a minister for artificial intelligence—but a minister who is artificial intelligence. Known by a single name, Diella, the new cabinet member represents a bold experiment in governance. Rama introduced her as part of his latest cabinet lineup just months after securing his fourth term in office.

The move is more symbolic than constitutional—Albania’s laws still require ministers to be human citizens, aged at least 18. Yet Rama’s choice highlights a growing trend: using AI to outpace corruption and inefficiency in government. Diella, whose name means “sun” in Albanian, has been appointed as “minister” for public procurement, with a mission to make all government tenders corruption-free.

Unlike human politicians, Diella is immune to scandals, leaks, or personal ambition. Her only appetite for power is electrical. Rama insists her algorithms will not only eliminate external influence over bidding processes but also accelerate procedures, making them transparent, efficient, and accountable.

Diella is not entirely new to public service. She previously worked as an AI-powered virtual assistant, guiding citizens through Albania’s e-services platform, where she helped process over a million applications. Rama now envisions her as a symbol of Albania “leapfrogging” larger nations that remain tied to traditional bureaucratic practices.

The announcement has divided opinion. Albania’s opposition dismissed the move as “ridiculous” and unconstitutional. Yet others, including business leaders and anti-corruption experts, see potential. If programmed effectively, Diella could help enforce procurement standards with a rigor and objectivity beyond human bias—an asset as Albania pushes forward with EU accession negotiations.

Even Rama admits there is a touch of theatrics in the rollout. But he argues that this symbolism has purpose: it forces his cabinet to rethink governance and operate under the pressure of innovation. As he put it, the presence of Diella is a reminder that in the future, ministers themselves may be competing with machines for their jobs.