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.

Illegal mining activities have reportedly occurred at East Africa Metals' Mato Bula and Da Tambuk sites in Ethiopia's Tigray region, driven by a more than 50% rise in gold prices this year. Despite the company's claims of non-operational status, former soldiers and Chinese miners allegedly extracted gold from early 2024 to mid-2025, backed by undisclosed investors. The region's interim president has deployed a task force to halt mining, but enforcement is threatened by escalating conflict, raising concerns of a Sudan-style resource conflict with minimal local benefits.