AI designated as a "minister" given the official seal of approval
In a unique turn of events, Albania, a candidate country for EU membership, is set to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) more profoundly in administrative tasks. This move is spearheaded by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has plans to transform institutions into AI development platforms, bringing together the best talents from Albania, the diaspora, and foreigners.
At the heart of this AI revolution is "Diella," a virtual Minister for Artificial Intelligence that, despite not being listed directly as a minister on the cabinet members' list, is responsible for the establishment and functioning of the role. Initially, "Diella" was used as a digital chatbot on state websites. However, the AI avatar has since been elected as the new government's State Minister for Artificial Intelligence.
The character of "Diella" is visually represented as a woman in traditional Albanian attire, modeled after Albanian actress Anila Bisha. During a speech in Parliament, Rama allowed "Diella" to speak via video, further emphasising its role in the government.
The establishment of an AI server as a "minister" called "Diella" was also approved by the Albanian Parliament, which, with a socialist majority, has recently approved the cabinet of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
While Rama sees "Diella" as a tool to eliminate corruption in the awarding of public contracts and to streamline administrative tasks, the opposition Democratic Party and its leader, Gazment Bardhi, are critical of the move. Bardhi refers to "Diella" as Rama's "propaganda fantasy," accusing the Prime Minister of using it as a "virtual facade to hide the daily massive thefts of this government."
The opposition finds it concerning that an AI entity should make administrative decisions. Albanian IT expert, Erjon Curraj, has expressed similar concerns, stating that responsibility for administrative decisions should remain with living humans.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, who is also a visual artist known for his theatrical gestures, has stated that "Diella" would help Albania move towards a more digital and efficient future. However, whether this move will be met with widespread acceptance remains to be seen as the debate continues.
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