First AI Minister Sworn In
Albania has just sworn in the world’s first artificial-intelligence cabinet member. The digital avatar, called Diella, is now “Minister of Public Procurement,” vetting every government tender in an effort to cut corruption (Time magazine report). Prime Minister Edi Rama says the move will slash red tape, but it also raises a larger question: how far should algorithms reach into democratic processes?
Albania’s AI “minister” in a nutshell
Announced on 12 September 2025, Diella runs on a large-language model similar to GPT-4 and is backed by human auditors (Procurement Mag story). A lifelike avatar in traditional Albanian dress fronts the system, publishing plain-language summaries of each decision. Supporters tout transparency; critics say an unelected AI has no constitutional mandate and could become a handy scapegoat when mistakes happen.
Why this matters for Australia’s Digital ID debate
Canberra’s draft Digital ID legislation already worries many PcRiot clients. Albania shows the next step: once citizens’ identities, purchase histories and tax records are fully linked, an AI can be marketed as the “neutral” middle person who decides for the people instead of decisions being made by the people. If a future government claims that an algorithm knows voters’ preferences from data exhaust such as shopping habits, social posts and phone sensors, traditional ballots could be dismissed as “inefficient”.
Could algorithms really replace the ballot box?
- Data appetite – Large-language models thrive on vast personal data. Digital ID schemes provide exactly that feedstock.
- Narrative shift – The sales pitch is seductive: “AI aggregates every citizen’s wishes in real time, so why run costly elections?”
- Risk concentration – Bias, hacking or bad training data in one model could skew national policy overnight.
- Accountability gap – If “the system” makes a bad call, no elected official has to take the blame.
Agentic chips are already in your pocket
The latest iPhone 17, Surface laptops and flagship Androids ship with neural-processing units that power on-device chatbots and image generators. (See my iOS 26 feature guide.) Everyday AI decisions such as camera exposure and predictive text make government-level AI oversight easier to sell as simply “the next upgrade”.
PcRiot’s take: reject Digital ID if you value freedom
Digital ID sounds convenient, but it hands over the master key that lets governments or corporations bundle every part of your life into a single trackable identity. This is the fuel that turns experimental AI ministers into permanent algorithmic gatekeepers. PcRiot’s position is clear: reject Digital ID mandates and contain its spread before it becomes impossible to live without.
- 🛑 Tell your MP to block any law that makes Digital ID a gateway to essential services and to keep paper alternatives permanently available.
- ⚖️ Demand sunset clauses and independent audits so any pilot scheme expires unless re-approved after public review.
- 📃 Push for penalties on businesses that refuse traditional ID for banking, healthcare or utilities.
- 🔑 Choose providers that support privacy-first or self-sovereign credentials where you control the keys.
- 🚫 Practise data minimisation: pay cash where feasible, limit loyalty programs and delete unused online accounts.
If you’re worried about how much of your life is tied to a digital ID, you’re not powerless. Audit your apps and accounts, lock down your devices, and avoid invasive platforms. Privacy-focused hardware such as de-Googled phones from Braxman Tech can shrink your digital footprint, but they cannot shield you from a government-mandated Digital ID scheme. Make your voice heard and oppose any move to make the government’s Digital ID the sole gateway to essential services.