AI Minister: How Albania Is Using Artificial Intelligence to Fight Corruption

Albania has made global headlines by appointing the first ever AI Minister, a digital cabinet member named Diella. Her job? Oversee public procurement and cut out corruption. Prime Minister Edi Rama says Diella will speed up public tenders, make them fully transparent and ensure they stay free from human bias or influence. While her appointment is symbolic rather than constitutional, it shows how governments can use AI to transform decision-making.

Why This Matters Now

Governments around the world are experimenting with artificial intelligence, but Albania has gone a step further by putting AI in a leadership role. Rama says the AI Minister will help make procurement “100% free of corruption,” remove human interference, and improve accountability. This matters for businesses too. Public contracts could soon be awarded using automated, data-driven processes. That means organisations must ensure their bids are accurate, fair and ready for AI review.

What’s New: An AI in the Cabinet

Diella is not just a chatbot. She has already guided over a million citizens through Albania’s e-government platform. Now she will monitor procurement systems, check bids, and flag anything that looks suspicious. Rama says this will make public tenders faster and more efficient. By removing manual steps, Albania aims to “leapfrog” countries still stuck with paper-based processes. This is one of the first examples of a government putting AI front and centre in a core public function.

Why It Matters for Data Protection

AI-driven procurement uses large amounts of personal and organisational data. Under UK GDPR and EU GDPR, that processing must remain lawful, transparent and fair. Organisations must explain how data feeds into automated decisions. They must also allow individuals to challenge unfair outcomes. Data protection teams need to consider how AI systems store data, who can access it, and how to evidence compliance. If Diella flags a bid as non-compliant, businesses will expect a clear explanation of why and they have the right to request that information.

What Organisations Should Do Now

Track developments in AI regulation and public procurement. If you take part in tenders, prepare for AI systems to review your bids. Map what personal data you use in submissions and check that you have a lawful basis to process it. Our GDPR Audits can help you benchmark your compliance.

Train your team to understand automated decision-making and data protection obligations. Our Data Protection Training gives practical guidance on AI and GDPR. Strengthen your process for Subject Access Requests so you can respond quickly if bidders, staff or suppliers ask to see data used in automated systems.

Finally, review your governance and risk assessments. Document how you check fairness and accuracy in your data before it goes into any AI system. If you plan to adopt similar technology, carry out a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) to show accountability.

Our View

Albania’s AI Minister is more than a publicity stunt, nit is a signal of how governments might modernise. AI can make procurement more efficient and less prone to corruption, but only if it is transparent and well-governed. We expect more governments to follow Albania’s lead. Organisations that prepare now will avoid disruption later and gain an advantage when AI-driven procurement becomes the norm.

FAQs

What is an AI Minister?

An AI Minister is a government role filled by artificial intelligence. In Albania, Diella has been tasked with monitoring public procurement and fighting corruption.

Could AI replace human ministers?

No, Albania’s constitution still requires human ministers. The AI Minister is a symbolic appointment designed to show the power of AI in governance.

How does this affect data protection?

AI systems process personal data, so they must comply with GDPR. Organisations must be transparent and give individuals a way to challenge automated decisions.

How can we prepare?

Review data governance, train staff on AI and GDPR, and document processes. Run audits to check compliance before AI systems review your data.

Contact Us

AI is coming to public procurement, is your organisation ready? Contact us today to discuss GDPR Audits, Training for your team, and SAR Support to help you prepare for automated decision-making and data transparency.