Is Artificial Intelligence the future of mining?

The mining industry is increasingly using AI as a tool to optimise processes, enhance decision-making, derive value from data, and improve safety, with the rise in total operating expenses for top mining companies driving this rapid advance of AI.

AI can be used in very powerful ways to predict wear and tear on various assets, and evaluate all the mechanical behaviours in an intelligent centralised system which monitors everything remotely.

BHP have been a key force in introducing AI into mine sites across Australia, “After years of development, we’re achieving strong results with autonomous equipment at our iron ore mines in Western Australia. The autonomous drills at Yandi and Mining Area C have increased productivity and reduced wear and tear maintenance costs. The fleet of self-driving trucks at Jimblebar has reduced potential safety incidents involving vehicles, increased truck utilisation and reduced haulage costs by about 20%.” Says Diane Jurgens, Chief Technology Officer for BHP.

And whilst the possibility of AI systems replacing much of modern manual labour is perhaps a dominant point of discussion in the industry, what seems to be certain is that AI will change the nature of work, and in some cases, will be more effective working in unison with skilled staff rather than on its own.