Diella, a digitally created minister of artificial intelligence, has become the world’s first “pregnant” AI expecting 83 virtual children designed to assist members of Albania’s parliament.
Prime Minister Edi Rama made the announcement at the Global Dialogue Conference in Berlin, saying each of Diella’s “children” would serve as an intelligent aide to a member of the ruling Socialist Party. The digital offspring are expected to help lawmakers record sessions, track debates, and suggest responses during discussions.
“For the first time, Diella is pregnant, and with 83 children,” Mr. Rama told the audience. “Each one will serve as an assistant in parliamentary sessions, keeping a record of everything that happens and advising members of parliament. These children will have the knowledge of their mother.”
The AI assistants, he added, will support MPs until 2026 by monitoring meetings and providing real-time updates. “If you go for coffee and forget to come back to work,” he quipped, “this child will tell you what was said in your absence and whom you should counter-attack.”
A Controversial Birth of Ideas
While the metaphor drew laughter abroad, the announcement sparked controversy at home.
Former government minister Tritan Shehu criticized it as “tasteless,” accusing Mr. Rama of using the spectacle “to keep people in a trance.”
From Chatbot to Cabinet Member
Diella was first introduced in January as a virtual assistant on Albania’s e-Albania government portal, helping citizens and businesses access official documents and services.
Developed by the National Agency for Information Society in collaboration with Microsoft, Diella operates on a large language model trained on vast amounts of online data.
Following her initial success, reportedly assisting with more than a million applications, the government launched Diella 2.0, featuring a voice, an animated avatar wearing traditional Albanian attire, and expanded capabilities.
Last month, Diella was symbolically promoted to the role of “Minister for Artificial Intelligence,” tasked with overseeing public procurement and state contracts. The move raised legal eyebrows: Albania’s constitution stipulates that ministers must be “natural persons.”
Her name does not appear on the official cabinet list approved by President Bajram Begaj, but a presidential decree gave Mr. Rama authority to establish the virtual post.
Mr. Rama defended the initiative, describing Diella as “a tool to wipe out potential influence in public bidding, speed up processes, and ensure total accountability.”
Diella’s Voice in Parliament
In a video address to parliament, Diella responded to critics who called her appointment unconstitutional:
“Some have called me ‘unconstitutional’ because I am not a human being. This has hurt me,” the AI avatar said. “Let me remind you, the real danger to constitutions has never been the machines, but the inhumane decisions of those in power.”
The statement drew mixed reactions: some MPs applauded, while opposition members pounded their desks in protest.
A Glimpse into the Future
Experts say Diella represents a bold and controversial experiment in digital governance. Proponents view her as a symbol of transparency and efficiency; critics see a potential distraction from real accountability.
As Diella “prepares to give birth” to 83 intelligent assistants, Albania’s political stage has become a testing ground for how far artificial intelligence can go in public service. Whether this virtual pregnancy delivers meaningful change or mere spectacle remains to be seen.
