The avatar known as Diella, billed as the world’s first government minister to be generated by artificial intelligence, was supposed to help cut Albania’s endemic corruption.
But there’s a glitch. The leaders of the agency that built it stand accused of bid-rigging public contracts.
In practice, Diella helps citizens apply for government services online, eliminating a long-established system of bribing officials for quick delivery of documents and scheduling appointments. It soon will be able to collate applications for government contracts to assess which bidder is most qualified, based on the data presented. Its work can be audited.
Taking steps to cut corruption is a requirement for Albania’s accession to the European Union, a legacy issue for Mr. Rama. He named the avatar Diella, the female word for sun, to promote transparency in public procurement.
A November report by E.U. officials said that Albania had “shown some progress” but that “corruption remained widespread across vulnerable sectors.” It credited a special prosecution unit set up in 2019 with advancing “positive results in fighting high-level corruption.”
That includes an investigation at the National Information Agency, the very government organization that created Diella.
Last month, prosectors in a special investigation unit announced they had put the agency’s director and her deputy under house arrest, linking them to a criminal organization accused of manipulating contract applications through intimidation. The agency operates the government’s digital infrastructure, wielding control over a wide range of online public systems, including Diella.
The two officials have not yet been formally charged with any crimes, and Mr. Rama said he would withhold judgment. “We have to wait and see,” he said.
The special investigation unit has dramatically expanded Albania’s crackdown on corruption and organized crime, including with high-profile corruption investigations against former President Ilir Meta; Erion Veliaj, the mayor of Albania’s capital, Tirana; and a deputy prime minister, Belinda Balluku, who is also the minister of infrastructure and energy, and is close to Mr. Rama.
Posted by John3262005
3 Comments
Well, I believe the article that was talking about the AI minister was posted a few months ago, so this is an interesting update to that story.
Given the developers are accused of graft, would it affect the AI?
Looking at other AI models and their creators, I would say probably to most likely
Ignoring the corruption part, did the prime minister still went with his plan to impregnate her?
arrnottheonion