AP
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Last year, Albania introduced what is being called the world’s first Minister of Artificial Intelligence. It turns out she wasn’t completely artificial – at least not her face and voice.
Albanian actor Anila Biša said they were her own and she never imagined the government would exploit her image so prominently.
Currently, Biša, a popular film and theater actor in Albania, is demanding that a so-called virtual minister named Deira be stripped of his face and voice.
This week, Biša formally filed a complaint with the government through Albania’s Administrative Court to immediately stop using her voice and image for Diera, citing violation of personal information.
“This is the first legal action to prevent the misuse of Anila’s image,” said her lawyer Aranit Rosi.
The Albanian government did not respond to requests for comment.
Albania attracted global attention last year when Prime Minister Edi Rama announced the creation of what he described as the world’s first Minister of Artificial Intelligence, with the aim of ensuring that all public procurement tenders are processed 100% free of corruption.
Deira is usually depicted wearing traditional Albanian national costume and is known for her punchy comebacks when prompted by government officials.
Biša confirmed that she had signed a contract agreeing to allow her voice and image to be used on the government’s online platform e-Albania, which provides a wide range of public services in the country. But she said she was never informed of plans to use them for the AI minister.
“I was surprised when I heard the prime minister declare it. No one asked me if I wanted my image used, and I asked how this could happen without my knowledge,” Bisha told The Associated Press on Thursday.
She said she feels her image is being used as a political statement.
This is not the first time that voices used in artificial intelligence platforms have been controversial.
In 2024, OpenAI removed one of ChatGPT’s voices, Sky, after actor Scarlett Johansson said the voice sounded “eerily similar” to her own. OpenAI said the voice used on Sky was not Johansson’s.
Biša said the AI minister had tried to contact the government many times since he became a member of Albania’s cabinet last September. She said she decided to start legal proceedings after her request for a meeting to discuss the issue went unanswered.
Bisha filed a preliminary injunction with the Administrative Court, asking the government to immediately stop using her image against Diera. Her representatives plan to file a formal lawsuit seeking damages and compensation.
“People can’t take away their identity and do whatever they want with it,” she said.
