AI is reshaping mining operations by enabling real-time data analysis and predictive maintenance, crucial for meeting rising demands for critical minerals like lithium and copper. Technologies such as sensor-laden quadruped robots patrol crusher corridors, identifying potential issues through vibration and temperature monitoring, while remote metallurgists optimise mill performance from afar. The integration of AI not only enhances operational efficiency but also shifts workforce roles towards higher-skill oversight, with predictive models reducing unplanned downtime and improving safety by minimising human exposure to hazardous environments.

US biomining startup Endolith has secured $13.5 million in seed funding to advance its AI-guided microbial extraction technology for copper and other critical minerals. Led by Squadra Ventures, the funding aims to support pilot-engineering and process validation of Endolith's environmentally friendly approach, which targets low-grade and complex ores. This investment highlights the growing interest in biomining as a strategic component of national security infrastructure, amid geopolitical supply chain disruptions and rising demand from the clean energy sector.

The Xinka Indigenous group has again rejected the restart of Pan American Silver's Escobal mine in Guatemala, citing risks to water, culture, and territory. A petition with over 6,000 signatures was delivered to Pan American Silver, urging respect for the Xinka's decision against the mine's reopening. The Escobal mine, which holds 24.7 million tonnes of proven and probable reserves at 334 grams silver per tonne, remains closed since 2017, with ongoing consultations under Guatemala's Ministry of Energy and Mines and ILO Convention 169.