Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama proposed on July 18 that artificial intelligence (AI) could soon take on a significant role in Albania’s governance, including the possibility of managing an entire AI-run government ministry in the future.

Albania, currently progressing rapidly in its EU membership negotiations, is working to modernise its institutions and reduce corruption, with digitalisation and AI in government seen as key tools in these efforts. Tirana has already used AI to analyse where Albanian legislation diverges from the EU acquis, aligning with European standards.

Speaking at a meeting with technology professionals in the southern city of Berat, Rama highlighted AI’s potential to improve transparency, efficiency, and accountability in Albania’s public administration.

“Very soon, artificial intelligence could become the most efficient member of the government,” Rama said, according to a government statement. “One day, we might even have a ministry entirely run by AI. That way, there would be no nepotism or conflicts of interest.”

While the proposal remains at a conceptual stage, Rama said the idea deserves careful consideration under the country’s Albania 2030 digital vision.

Rama also encouraged the Albanian technology and start-up community to participate in developing an AI model that could select a minister of state for artificial intelligence, describing it as a first step toward a future in which AI systems might oversee government decision-making.

“If you can create an artificial intelligence model to elect the minister, it will be the first step towards the historic moment when Albania will be the first to have an entire government with AI ministers and a prime minister,” he said.

Rama also reaffirmed his government’s goal for Albania to transition to a cashless society by 2030, aiming for all financial transactions and public interactions to become fully digital. Achieving this, he said, would require significant efforts in public awareness and digital skills development, but the technology itself was already in place.