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.

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.

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.