On August 30, 2025, Albania made history.
Prime Minister Edi Rama stood on stage and introduced Diella: the world’s first AI-powered government minister.
Her job? Assist Albania in navigating EU integration and communicating policy to citizens with clarity and efficiency. A transparent, multilingual, always-available digital official.
And just like that, the future of governance is no longer theoretical.
👁️🗨️ The First AI in Government Isn’t Fiction Anymore
When I wrote AICracy: Beyond Democracy, I asked:
“What if AI could help us govern better than we govern ourselves?”
It wasn’t a provocation, it was a foresight.
Now, with Diella stepping into a real government role, we’ve entered uncharted territory. She may not sign laws or command armies, but make no mistake: this is governance.
And it’s only the beginning.
What Diella Represents (and Why It Matters)
AI is no longer a tool in the background. It’s becoming a public-facing agent of power. Whether that’s helping process public complaints or guiding national reforms, it raises urgent questions:
- Who writes Diella’s priorities?
- What happens if citizens disagree with her recommendations?
- Is she accountable? To whom?
- Can you debate with her? Challenge her? Replace her?
The world’s first AI minister opens the door not just to digital governance, but to algorithmic authority.
And as I argue in AICracy, that’s not inherently bad. In fact, it could be good.
If and only if: we design the right systems.
From Democracy to AICracy
The idea of AICracy isn’t about replacing humans with machines.
It’s about evolving how we govern, by combining human judgment with AI’s ability to process complexity, spot patterns, and reduce noise.
In AICracy, I lay out a model where:
- Multiple independent AI systems (like Albania’s Diella) cross-check each other.
- Humans retain moral judgment, but AI helps expose blind spots and bias.
- Citizens still choose. Human will and public participation are central. AI doesn’t dictate, it amplifies informed decision-making.
- Oversight is built-in, not bolted on, with transparency at every step.
- AI is trained on shared public values, not just datasets.
This is what we must begin building before Diella gets siblings.
One Minister Is a Test. Ten Will Be a System.
Albania may be the first, but others will follow. And soon.
Will your country’s first AI minister be built to explain its logic?
To accept public feedback?
To respect nuance, culture, and moral dilemmas?
If we don’t ask now, we won’t like the answers later.
What Can You Do?
- Engage with this moment. Diella is not a gimmick. She’s a sign.
- Read about AICracy. The book lays out a blueprint for AI-integrated governance that serves people—not just power.
- Share this story. The future of governance won’t arrive in a single vote – it’s being coded now.
Let’s make sure it reflects the future we want.
📖 Explore the ideas behind AICracy → www.aicracy.ai
💬 Would you trust an AI minister in your country? Why or why not?