Recently, an AI generated minister has been appointed in the Albanian government to help combat the corruption that torments the nation. This decision may seem strange, but in a country where corruption runs rampant, an unbribable, non-biased system might be a necessity to restore governmental integrity.
An AI minister uninfluenced by any governmental factors supports the idea of an unbiased government amid the country’s problematic corruption. Plans to reveal all of the AI minister’s actions are intended to help convey new transparent policies. The World Bank stated that technology and digital transparency are some of the most effective ways to limit corruption worldwide. According to Transparency International, an organization combating corruption, Albanian dishonesty derives from bribery and misuse of power. This issue is blatant with Albanian politicians like Iler Meta, who held the prime minister position and more recently, presidency. Last year, he was convicted of bribery, money laundering, and failure to declare assets, highlighting the corruption in the nation.
Leaders influenced by money or personal interests make it difficult for citizens to trust that decisions will benefit the whole nation. According to Pew Research Center, this pattern can be observed in many countries like Russia, Turkey, India, and many more. Al Jazeera reported, Albanian citizens have lost faith in government officials because of dishonesty. This led to mass protest last year, with the people calling for the current government to step down.
A truly objective AI minister doesn’t have personal biases, family members to protect, or secret deals to make. A well-designed AI is only loyal to data, logic, and rules, which means decisions could be more fair. Many Albanian government officials say they do not believe that an AI generated minister is the solution, according to Edi Rama, the current prime minister. He is mistaken: appointing an AI minister is a huge step in rebuilding trust between the people and leaders after years of dishonesty and shady actions by those in power.
Many Albanian citizens claim that Diella is biased because the agency programming the AI, the National Agency for Information Society, is controlled by the prime minister’s office. However, Diella cannot vote and only oversees the granting of contracts to private companies and control of corruption within the government by flagging irregularities.
AI can also make decisions more efficiently than human officials, which enhances productivity in the nation. Human officials may spend weeks or even months debating a policy to benefit their political image, avoiding accountability, rather than tending to the actual needs of people. Diella can process huge amounts of information quickly and propose solutions to the public without worrying about who gets credit. This efficiency, paired with accountability, could help Albania move forward from its corrupt past and focus on progress for the nation.
By adopting an AI minister, Albania shows that governments can use new technology in an effort to be more open. If this system works in Albania, it can inspire other governments to adopt AI tools for decision-making, budgeting, or monitoring officials.
