The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton What happens when a government gives an algorithm a seat at the cabinet table?
Nov 24, 2025
In this discussion, technology reporter Sam Adebayo explores Albania's groundbreaking move to appoint Diella, an AI system, as a cabinet-level minister for public procurement. He delves into how this initiative aims to enhance transparency but raises critical questions about accountability and potential biases in algorithmic governance. Adebayo highlights the mixed public reception and ethical concerns, wondering if AI could ever genuinely replace human political roles or if this is merely an experiment with uncertain outcomes.
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How Dila Emerged
- Sam Adebayo discovered Albania's AI 'Dila' while tracking notable tech policy moves that jumped out to him as a reporter.
- He traced Dila's origins to an e-Albania service meant to streamline citizen services before it was elevated to oversee procurement.
AI Elevated To Decision-Maker
- Dila moved from a citizen-service bot to a cabinet-level role making procurement decisions.
- That elevation signals governments might trust AI for high-stakes allocation tasks even without proven outcomes.
Clarify Accountability First
- Ask who is accountable when an AI system makes a mistake before delegating high-stakes decisions.
- Demand transparency about training data and controls to reduce manipulation risks.