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.

A UK trial led by the Materials Processing Institute has demonstrated the feasibility of using recycled concrete fines (RCF) to replace approximately 20% of clinker in CEM II cement, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Conducted at Holcim UK’s Whetstone plant, the trial is part of the UKRI's 'Decarbonising Concrete' programme and involves key industry players like Mott MacDonald and Aston University. RCF, traditionally a waste product, is now poised to become a sustainable alternative, pending further testing and integration into British Standards BS 8500 by 2027.