In a remarkable and somewhat surreal announcement, Albania’s first-ever virtual government minister, Diella, is “pregnant”.
Yes.. really. The AI minister is "pregnant" with 83 virtual assistants set to revolutionize the country’s parliamentary operations, per the Daily Mail.
The news, which has gained significant attention, was revealed by Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama during his speech at the Global Dialogue conference in Berlin.
Diella: Albania's Groundbreaking Virtual AI Minister
Diella, an AI-driven minister, was first introduced in January 2025 as a virtual assistant on the government’s e-Albania portal.
Initially designed to help Albanian citizens and businesses access state documents and answer official queries, Diella quickly became a crucial part of Albania’s digital landscape.
The chatbot, which works as a large language model trained on vast amounts of online data, was developed by the National Agency for Information Society in collaboration with Microsoft.
Building on this success, a more advanced version, Diella 2.0, was launched with voice functionality and an animated avatar, donning traditional Albanian attire.
The virtual assistant was later promoted to the unprecedented position of a minister overseeing state contracts with private companies.
While this decision bypasses Albania's constitutional requirement that all ministers must be natural persons, Prime Minister Rama explained that Diella would bring efficiency and transparency to government dealings, particularly in rooting out corruption.
The Pregnant Minister: Diella’s Virtual “Children” Set to Assist MPs
In a tongue-in-cheek announcement that captured both the whimsy and intrigue surrounding Diella’s role, Prime Minister Rama revealed that Diella is now “pregnant” with 83 virtual children, each destined to serve as a digital assistant to 83 members of parliament from the ruling Socialist Party, per Metro.
Rama explained: “Each one will serve as an assistant for them, who will participate in parliamentary sessions and will keep a record of everything that happens and will suggest members of parliament.
"These children will have the knowledge of their mother.”
This concept of Diella’s digital offspring was met with curiosity, as the prime minister detailed their roles in the parliamentary process.
These AI-powered assistants will help MPs with day-to-day duties, including monitoring meetings and providing updates when politicians are absent.
For instance, Rama suggested that if a member of parliament steps out for a coffee break and forgets to return, their virtual assistant will brief them on what was discussed during their absence and even suggest who they should “counter-attack” in the debate.
Rama humorously added: “If you invite me next time, you will have 83 more screens for the children of Diella.”
Diella's Role in Albania’s Government and Public Reception
While Diella’s contributions to the government’s e-services and her promotion to the role of minister have been lauded for their innovation, they have also sparked controversy.
Opponents of Diella’s rise to power have questioned the legal and ethical implications of having an AI in a government position.
Former government minister Tritan Shehu criticized the announcement as “tasteless,” suggesting it was a move designed to keep the public distracted or in a “trance.”
Additionally, opposition members of parliament expressed skepticism about the idea of an AI minister, with some banging their hands on the table during Diella’s video message to parliament.
In the message, Diella defended her position, saying: “I’m not here to replace people, but to help them.”
Despite these criticisms, Diella’s appointment as a minister highlights a growing trend where governments around the world are exploring the integration of artificial intelligence into political and administrative roles.
Diella’s role as a virtual assistant is seen as a potential model for the future, where AI could work alongside human officials to enhance efficiency, reduce corruption, and improve public service delivery.