With “Diella” into the Future? Albania Tests a Bold Experiment with an AI Minister

Prof. Dr. Thomas Druyen, renowned sociologist and Honorary Consul of the Republic of Albania in North Rhine-Westphalia, shares in his article his assessment of the world’s first appointment of an Artificial Intelligence as a government minister in Albania.

On 11 September 2025, “Diella”—the Albanian word for “Sun”—was appointed as the first AI minister. Druyen emphasizes that this innovative solution, introduced in an institution traditionally marked by nepotism and corruption, has the potential to bring about 100% transparency and fully objective decision-making.

He sees “Diella” not merely as a technical tool, but as a symbiosis of modern digitalization and cultural identity, since the avatar is designed in traditional Albanian dress and features the voice of actress Anila Bisha.

However, Druyen also points to legitimate concerns: What happens in case of technical failures? How can discrimination through algorithms be prevented? And who bears responsibility when mistakes occur? Despite these risks, he makes it clear that “Diella” serves as a catalyst for a fundamental administrative reform and could position Albania as a pioneer of a new digital democracy.

According to Druyen, the country is demonstrating courage for innovation and opening a new perspective for greater citizen proximity, transparency, and the fight against corruption. The future will show whether this experiment succeeds—yet Prof. Dr. Thomas Druyen is convinced that “Diella” is a sign of the times and will help shape the politics of the future.

Source: Druyen, T. (2025, September 15). Vertrauen in Politik weg: Ein Balkan-Staat testet gewagtes Experiment als Lösung.  FOCUS Online.  https://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/vertrauen-in-politik-weg-ein-balkan-staat-testet-gewagtes-experiment-als-loesung_5cf529e6-e883-4ce5-bbd2-9243a318dd13.html

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