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Artificial intelligence is emerging from laboratories and entering parliaments. From Albania's AI-created minister to chatbot-led political parties, governments are exploring algorithmic decision-makers. The outcome? A new type of political player, one crafted of data, not DNA.
Albania appointed an AI minister, Diella, to ensure its public procurement system is transparent and corruption-free. Prime Minister Edi Rama unveiled Diella, which translates to ‘Sun’, as an incorruptible administrator tasked with introducing efficiency and fairness into governance.
At the Global Dialogue in Berlin, Rama announced that Diella is ‘expectant’ with 83 AI ‘children’, all of whom will serve as assistants to members of parliament. These assistants will capture parliamentary proceedings, summarize debates, and even provide counterarguments. Rama quipped, “If you take a coffee and don’t return, your child will direct you on whom to counter-attack.” The system should become operational by 2026.
Initially, as a virtual helper on the e-Albania website, Diella assisted citizens in accessing government records. Today, she represents a new era, where AI beings undertake formal roles within governance arrangements.
AI avatars, chatbots, and virtual characters are already influencing politics globally. In Denmark, the Synthetic Party is headed by Leader Lars, a chatbot candidate for non-voters. In Japan, there was an AI “mayor” candidate who campaigned on data-driven policy decisions.
In addition to symbolic experiments, AI is influencing elections through AI-created campaign videos, deepfakes, and voter micro-targeting. These features can increase engagement, but they can also cause manipulation and misinformation.
While boundaries between real and fake blur, many are questioning the accountability and transparency of the technology used in this new digital democracy.
Also Read: The Future of Artificial Intelligence in the Entertainment Industry
The emergence of AI in politics presents both a challenge and an opportunity for India, a great democracy. AI-powered chatbots and campaign software could engage politically and amplify the reach of the 800 million-plus internet users in the country, more than ever before. However, the electoral law in India does not address AI-generated political content and algorithmic decision-making.
On the other hand, AI can play a very constructive role in the whole process of citizen participation, government service access, and bureaucracy reduction if it is developed with proper rules and public trust. Digital literacy then becomes crucial, allowing citizens to differentiate between genuine political communications and manipulated messages created by AI.
India’s democratic might allow it to establish moral norms for AI governance, equating innovation with integrity. The only question now is no longer whether AI will become politicized, but how democracies can ensure that, when it does, it remains for the people, not the program.
