An unexpected and controversial incident occurred around Artificial Intelligence Minister Diella, who was portrayed as a "symbol" of anti-corruption in Albania. According to The New York Times, the leaders of the structure that led the creation of Diella are suspected of corruption.
The Albanian prosecutor's office has placed the director and deputy director of the National News Agency (NNAI), the government organization that developed Diella, under house arrest. It is said that they are being investigated on suspicion of "playing around" with applications and tender processes for state contracts, that is, being involved in a criminal structure interested in the distribution of contracts.
This case is being considered against the backdrop of a large-scale anti-corruption campaign that has recently intensified in Albania. According to sources, this campaign is also related to the country's process of fulfilling the requirements and standards for joining the European Union.
Recall that Albania was mentioned as the first country in the world to grant Diella the status of "minister" at the state level. In particular, it is written that it is entrusted with such tasks as reducing the human factor in public procurement and tenders, checking documents, and making processes "transparent."
At this point, the most difficult question arises: if the leaders who developed the system designed to curb corruption are themselves under suspicion, then the problem may not be in technology, but in who and how manages the system. Diella was supposed to be the "iron shield," but events show that any digital solution comes down to human honesty.
The conclusion is brief: Albania's experience is also a signal for all of Europe. Artificial intelligence can be introduced into public administration, but control, accountability, and transparency must work harder than "code." Otherwise, the "smart system" can also become a simple tool in the wrong hands.
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