A new minister in Albania, responsible for public procurement, will be immune to bribes, threats or favoritism. That's because Diela, as she's called, is a bot created with artificial intelligence.

Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is preparing to begin his fourth term, said on Thursday that Diela, which means "sun" in Albanian, will manage and award all public works, for which the government awards contracts to private companies.

«Diela is the first cabinet member not physically present, but virtually created by artificial intelligence.", Rama said during the presentation of the new government. It will contribute to Albania becoming "country where public tenders are 100% free from corruption».

The awarding of such contracts has long been a source of corruption scandals in Albania, a Balkan country that experts say is a hub for gangs laundering money from drug and arms trafficking, and corruption has reached the highest echelons of power. The picture complicates Albania's path to European Union membership, which Rama wants to achieve by 2030, but political analysts say is an ambitious goal.

The government did not provide details about who would exercise human oversight in dieula Nor did it address the risks of artificial intelligence manipulation.

Diela was first introduced earlier this year as an AI virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform, helping citizens and businesses obtain government documents. Dressed in traditional Albanian costume, she provides assistance with voice commands and issues documents with electronic seals, reducing bureaucratic delays.

Not everyone is convinced. One Facebook user commented: "Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania». Another wrote: «The theft will continue and it will be Diella's fault.».

The new parliament, elected in May, is scheduled to convene on Friday, although it remains unclear whether the government will be put to a vote on the same day.