Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) “minister”, Diella, is “pregnant” with 83 virtual offspring — one for each ruling party lawmaker — who will serve as digital parliamentary assistants.

The announcement adds another twist to Albania’s experiment with AI in government. Diella, whose name means “sun” in Albanian, was initially launched as a virtual assistant on the government’s e-Albania web portal, where it helps citizens and businesses obtain official documents and information.

“I am obliged to share, for the first time, that Diella is pregnant and expecting 83 children, each one of whom will serve as an assistant to a member of our parliament,” Rama said at the Berlin Global Dialogue conference, a government statement said. 

“They will keep notes on everything that happens and will inform and suggest members of parliament regarding their reactions… These children will have their mother’s knowledge regarding EU legislation and everything else.”

Rama said the AI assistants will help MPs in daily parliamentary work. “For example, if you go for coffee and forget to come back to work, this child will say what was said when you were not in the hall and will tell you who you should counter-attack,” he quipped.

Developed by the National Agency for Information Society in partnership with Microsoft, Diella uses large language model technology similar to that behind global generative AI systems. The latest version, Diella 2.0, includes a voice interface and an animated avatar in traditional Albanian dress.

Diella got a promotion last month when Rama appointed the chatbot as a “state minister for AI” to oversee digital transformation and public–private technology partnerships.

She was billed as an important part of Rama’s drive for “transparency and innovation” as the Balkan country seeks European Union membership by 2030.

However, the "appointment" proved controversial. Albania’s parliament descended into chaos on September 18 when opposition lawmakers disrupted Rama’s presentation of the AI minister. Opposition MPs dismissed the unveiling as a stunt and a cover for graft.