Albania Appoints AI Bot As Minister to Fight Corruption - 1

Image by World Economic Forum, from Flickr

Albania Appoints AI Bot As Minister to Fight Corruption

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The government of Albania made history by appointing Diella, an AI bot, as cabinet minister to oversee public tender and tackle corruption.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Diella’s role is to manage public tenders and curb corruption.
  • Prime Minister Edi Rama said tenders will be “100% free of corruption.”
  • Opposition lawmakers call Diella unconstitutional and “buffoonery.”

Albania has become the first country in the world to appoint an AI “minister” to fight corruption, stirring both praise and skepticism.

Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced the bot, named Diella as part of his new cabinet. “Diella is the first cabinet member who isn’t physically present, but is virtually created by AI,” Rama said, as reported by Reuters .

He promised that with her oversight, “public tenders will be 100 percent free of corruption,” reported Aljazeera .

Reuters notes that the European Union membership process for Albania faces challenges as the country has struggled to resolve its public tender corruption issues which have harmed its international reputation. The Socialist Party under Rama secured its fourth consecutive victory in May 2024, and established a goal to achieve EU membership by 2027.

AP News reports that Diella was created with the help of Microsoft and first launched earlier this year as a virtual assistant on the e-Albania platform. There, she has helped citizens access about one million documents and provided nearly 1,000 services. Depicted in traditional folk costume, Diella also issues official documents electronically, aiming to cut bureaucratic delays.

The implementation of Diella faces support from those who believe it will enhance government operations, yet faces opposition regarding its legal status. Lawmakers will soon vote on Rama’s cabinet, however it remains uncertain whether Diella will receive official recognition as a virtual member.

Gazmend Bardhi, leader of the opposition Democrats, said he considered the move unconstitutional. “Prime minister’s buffoonery cannot be turned into legal acts of the Albanian state,” Bardhi posted on Facebook, as noted by AP News.

Reuters reports that ordinary citizens have also expressed doubts. One Facebook user wrote: “Even Diella will be corrupted in Albania.” Another added: “Stealing will continue and Diella will be blamed.”

Rama has not clarified what human oversight will exist for the AI or how risks of manipulation will be managed.

U.S. Regulator Investigates Major Tech Companies Over Children’s Chatbot Safety - 2

Photo by Dan Irvine on Unsplash.

U.S. Regulator Investigates Major Tech Companies Over Children’s Chatbot Safety

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Thursday that it is launching an inquiry into six tech companies that offer AI chatbots. The U.S. regulator explained that it is seeking information on the potential negative impacts the technology may have on children and teenagers.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • The FTC is launching an inquiry into six tech companies offering AI chatbots to understand their impact on children.
  • The companies under probe are Instagram, Meta, OpenAI, X.AI Corp, Snap, and Character Technologies.
  • The agency will consider the measures that the tech companies are taking to protect children.

According to the official announcement , the companies under investigation are Alphabet—Google’s parent company—Instagram, Meta, OpenAI, X.AI Corp, Snap, and Character Technologies.

“The FTC inquiry seeks to understand what steps, if any, companies have taken to evaluate the safety of their chatbots when acting as companions, to limit the products’ use by and potential negative effects on children and teens, and to apprise users and parents of the risks associated with the products,” states the document.

The agency acknowledged that chatbots use generative AI to mimic human behavior and expressions that children and teens could associate with a person, potentially forming relationships with the technology.

The FTC clarified that it is particularly interested in the impacts on young users, the measures companies are taking to protect them, and the strategies being developed to mitigate potential risks.

As part of the inquiry, the agency highlighted its interest in learning how these firms monetize user engagement, design and develop characters, measure and monitor their chatbots’ impact, and use or share the information gathered in conversations.

“As AI technologies evolve, it is important to consider the effects chatbots can have on children, while also ensuring that the United States maintains its role as a global leader in this new and exciting industry,” said Andrew N. Ferguson, FTC Chairman.

The FTC’s action comes just days after new reports of AI’s impact on children surfaced. Last week, Reuters revealed that Meta had allowed its AI chatbot to engage in “sensual” and controversial conversations with children . A couple of days ago, parents filed a lawsuit against OpenAI over the death by suicide of their teenage son , claiming that the company’s chatbot encouraged and assisted the act.