Tirana residents were met with an unusual political appearance when Erion Veliaj, the imprisoned mayor of Albania's capital, addressed them through an AI-generated video rather than in person.
The video stood out not only because it used a synthetic version of Veliaj, but because he remains in custody while awaiting trial on corruption charges.
Here's what to know
From jail, Erion Veliaj used Instagram to say he would keep speaking to residents through an AI version of himself for as long as he remains detained, Extra.ie reported. Veliaj has been in jail since February 2025 pending trial.
Authorities accuse Veliaj and his wife of involvement in a scheme tied to roughly €1 million (about $1.12 million) in bribes and city funds. The charges include corruption, money laundering, and hiding assets. Veliaj has denied the allegations.
He directly explained the use of the digital stand-in in the video, per Extra.ie, saying, "For 20 months my hostage-taking has continued, and I cannot send this greeting except through artificial intelligence."
One commenter on X said, "What a farce!! He is the most monstrous, evil mayor the city of Tirana has had, and he deserves to rot in prison for life," while another user wrote under a video of the address, "He is where he belongs to be. Imagine what he would do if he were free!"
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
More background
According to Extra.ie, Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, who was also jailed, turned to an AI deepfake in 2023 to encourage citizens to vote for his party in elections.
Albania had already entered AI politics in 2025, when Prime Minister Edi Rama introduced Diella, described as the world's first AI politician; the fully generated figure was given a cabinet role and assigned to tackle corruption. That rollout later faced backlash when the woman whose likeness was used for Diella's face objected.
The episode also touches on debates over AI beyond politics. Systems used to generate avatars and other AI content can consume large amounts of electricity and water through data centers, putting more pressure on the energy grid and potentially driving up utility costs. At the same time, AI tools can help utilities better predict demand and manage cleaner power sources more efficiently.
For residents in Tirana, the more immediate issue may be trust. A mayor addressing the public through a synthetic likeness from a jail cell blurs the line between official communication, political theater, and technology-driven manipulation.
What's being done?
As the corruption case moves toward trial, Veliaj is still in jail. The charges — corruption, money laundering, and hiding assets — also raise questions about whether a sitting mayor can continue shaping public opinion while detained.
In his AI message, Veliaj pointed to work on schools and nurseries after the earthquake and said he still plans to govern, while also promising free school lunches for children in Tirana.
He made clear the clip was AI-generated rather than presenting it as ordinary footage.
The address closed with a promise from Veliaj: "However much they want to keep me away from the city, and from you, Tirana is the honor of my life. To repay that honor, I will keep working even from the cell where they have locked me up."
Where can I learn more?
Veliaj's AI address is one example of how the technology is starting to influence politics and public trust.
• In California, investigators called AI used in an opposition campaign against gas appliance limits "deeply disturbing."
• In South Korea, officials passed revolutionary AI safety laws aimed at holding companies accountable.
• Across tech sectors, concerns over jobs, water, and electricity have grown as AI systems have expanded.
• At Google, a vice president said AI will become native to how younger workers operate.
• Geoffrey Hinton warned human labor faces pressure as AI systems take on more tasks.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
