Albania is looking to artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool to curb corruption and accelerate its bid to join the European Union, and even entertains the idea of an AI-run ministry, Politico reported.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said last month that AI could become “the most efficient member of the Albanian government,” describing it as a potential game-changer for transparency. Speaking at a July press conference, Rama suggested that “one day, we might even have a ministry run entirely by AI – that way there would be no nepotism or conflicts of interest.”
Rama floated the possibility of local developers designing an AI model that could be “elected” as minister, opening the door for an entire cabinet made up of AI ministers and a prime minister. While no formal steps have been taken, he said the idea should be seriously considered.
Former ruling party politician and author Ben Blushi told Politico that he sees no reason to fear the technology, predicting that AI-run states could redefine democracy. “Societies will be better run by AI than by us – it won’t make mistakes, doesn’t need a salary, cannot be corrupted, and doesn’t stop working,” he said.
Already in use
Albania has long struggled with corruption, with several high-profile prosecutions against both current and former officials. Rama’s government has begun deploying AI in specific areas, including public procurement – a sector the EU has urged the country to clean up – and in the real-time analysis of tax and customs data to spot irregularities.
According to Politico, AI-driven drones and satellites are already monitoring construction sites, public beaches and rural cannabis plantations for illegal activity. The government also plans to introduce AI-based facial recognition for traffic enforcement, issuing instant warnings and digital fines to speeding drivers. Albania has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in Europe, with speeding the main cause, according to the state statistics agency.
Opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Jorida Tabaku supports digital innovation but warned that AI is “a tool, not a miracle.” She told Politico that in the wrong hands it could become “a digital disguise for the same old dysfunction,” and argued that governance reform must precede any large-scale AI rollout. “You can’t fix a rigged system by putting it in the cloud,” she said.
Tied to EU integration
The AI push is closely linked to Albania’s EU integration strategy. After formally opening accession talks in 2022, the government began aligning with the EU’s vast body of laws and regulations – around 250,000 pages in total. Rama has pledged to complete the process by 2030 and finish the technical work by 2027, two years faster than Croatia.
Albania has partnered with Mira Murati, the former chief technology officer of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT, who was born in southern Albania. Rama told Politico the government contacted her shortly after ChatGPT’s launch, and AI is now assisting in translation and legal alignment tasks for EU negotiations.
Odeta Barbullushi, a former adviser to Rama on EU integration, said AI could “truly accelerate” technical work such as translation but warned that political oversight is essential for the adoption of EU rules.
Digital drive, mixed capacity
Rama’s AI ambitions come alongside broader digitalisation goals, including making Albania a cashless society by 2030 and moving almost all public services online through the e-Albania portal.
Yet experts told Politico that the country lacks the skilled workforce, infrastructure, and funding needed for rapid AI adoption. Gerond Taçi, a local AI specialist, said that while adaptation is unavoidable, it must be accompanied by a step-by-step plan, legal safeguards, and disaster recovery measures. “There is no other way – the Albanian people must be ready for the transition,” he said.