The two individuals responsible for the 'AI Minister' appointed to investigate corruption in Albania have been caught taking bribes.

Although Albania appointed 'Diella' as the world's first Artificial Intelligence (AI) minister in 2025 with the primary aim of eradicating deep-rooted corruption and irregularities in the country, the program is currently facing a severe crisis. This controversial situation has arisen after two key officials of the National Information Agency (AKSHI), which created this AI minister appointed to combat corruption, were arrested on corruption charges.

The Director and Deputy Director of the National Information Agency, led by Diella, have currently been placed under house arrest, facing serious charges such as accepting bribes in awarding state contracts, intimidation, and maintaining connections with criminal gangs. The fact that the heads of this institution, which controls the government's digital system, are themselves facing corruption charges seriously questions Prime Minister Edi Rama's anti-corruption program and the government's credibility.

With this incident, suspicions are arising from the opposition and the public as to whether the AI minister named Diella was also used to cover up corruption or alter evidence, and the Prime Minister has stated that he will not comment on the matter until the investigations are concluded. As Albania is making strong efforts to gain European Union membership, and controlling corruption is a mandatory condition for it, these arrests have become a major challenge for the government.

Diella, a virtual avatar dressed in traditional Albanian attire, had previously stated at international conferences that since she is not human, she has no personal agenda or selfish motives and merely serves the public based on data and algorithms. Through her, citizens can access public services, prepare documents, and book appointments online, with the government's aim being to minimize the need to bribe officials.

However, amidst these corruption allegations, Prime Minister Rama made another controversial statement last October, claiming that the world's first AI minister was now 'pregnant' and expected to have 83 'children'. Although this statement, made at a conference in Berlin, seemed like a joke, it meant that 83 digital assistants would be created to support the 83 Members of Parliament of the ruling party.

These new digital assistants are expected to perform tasks such as reporting parliamentary debates, informing MPs about what happened in the assembly in their absence, and helping to present counter-arguments for debates, starting from late 2026. The European Union has warned that corruption in Albania has spread to the highest levels of politicians, and critics point out the importance of taking practical anti-corruption measures rather than such technological solutions if Albania is to gain EU membership by 2030.