Local developers are already exploring the creation of an AI model capable of performing a ministerial role and Prime Minister Edi Rama has even mentioned the possibility of Albania becoming the first country with an AI prime minister and cabinet ministers. Former politician Ben Blushi argues that societies could be better governed by algorithms that don’t make mistakes, don’t draw salaries and cannot be corrupted. That is an appealing prospect in a country with a long history of corruption.

AI already in practice

Artificial intelligence is already being applied in several key areas in Albania. It is used to monitor public procurement, analyze tax and customs transactions, and track illegal activities via drones and satellites, while in traffic management, it helps by sending automatic warnings to drivers. Broader applications are planned in healthcare, education and digital citizen identification. However, skeptics, including opposition MP Jorida Tabaku, warn that AI is not a magic wand. The system needs a thorough overhaul before AI can be truly effective, because if the same individuals who previously benefited from corrupt practices are the ones programming the algorithms, the same problems will simply be replicated in a digital form. Clear legal frameworks and oversight are therefore absolutely essential.

Path to the EU

Albania is also using AI to accelerate its path to the EU. Since the start of negotiations in 2022, the country has had to align hundreds of thousands of pages of laws and standards. AI assists in translation and identifying discrepancies with EU legislation, aiming to complete the process by 2027, while collaboration with Mira Murati, former CTO of OpenAI, further speeds up the negotiations. Beyond technical support in translation and document analysis, AI enables better planning and progress tracking, saving government institutions time and resources. Ultimately, this application of technology could significantly increase the efficiency of the entire integration process and reduce the risk of human error.

Albania demonstrates ambition by combining innovation, digitalization and AI to reduce corruption, accelerate EU integration and modernize the state. Success could position Albania as a pioneer in governance, demonstrating how humans and AI can work together to run a more accountable and efficient government.