Burgex Mining Consultants recently had a mining dialogue – with an interviewee that exists only in the depths of technology. What did ChatGPT share about its knowledge of mining and artificial intelligence’s role in transforming operations and even reclamation?
By Stuart Burgess
Today I virtually sat down with one of the leading artificial intelligence (AI) platforms trained specifically in language models – you can interact with it conversationally. This platform, which became virally popular shortly after its launch in late 2022, is known as Chat GPT. While there is a lot of speculation about what jobs AI is likely to replace (even the AI itself has opinions on this), I thought it would be interesting to get its opinion on how AI will impact the mining and mineral exploration industries moving forward.
I have informed the AI about my intentions to conduct an interview about the potential impacts of AI on the mining industry and have asked it to respond in a friendly, interesting and not overly-technical manner.
Burgess: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
AI: Sure! I am ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI. I have been trained on a vast amount of text data, which allows me to understand and respond to a wide range of topics, including the impact of AI on the mining industry. I can provide information, answer questions, and even carry on a conversation. My main goal is to make complex information easy to understand and accessible to everyone.
Do you often get asked questions about mining?
As a language model, I can respond to a wide range of topics including mining. I am a general-purpose AI and can answer questions on a variety of subjects such as mining, finance, healthcare, and more. However, depending on the specific questions, my knowledge may be more or less detailed. I do my best to provide accurate and helpful information, but in case if there is any specific question that I’m not able to answer, I’ll let you know.
Ultimately, AI is a powerful tool that will change the industry, but there will still be a need for human interaction. It is becoming clear, though, that companies will need to find ways to adopt and integrate technology or they may be left in the dust.
Yes, that’s a very good point. As AI and other advanced technologies continue to evolve, companies in the mining industry will need to find ways to adopt and integrate them in order to remain competitive. Companies that are able to harness the power of AI and other advanced technologies will be better positioned to identify new mineral deposits, optimize the exploration and mining process, and improve their bottom line.
It’s also important to mention that government and industry organizations also have a role in this process by creating the right framework to support the development and deployment of new technologies in the mining industry, and to ensure that the benefits are shared by all stakeholders.
Companies that don’t adopt these technologies may struggle to compete and may eventually be left behind. As mining companies increasingly adopt AI, it will become a standard in the industry, and companies that don’t adapt will find themselves at a disadvantage.
In summary, the mining industry is on the cusp of a technological revolution, and the companies that are able to harness the power of AI and other advanced technologies will be better positioned to succeed in the future.
That’s an excellent summary. I think the mining industry is definitely on the cusp of a technological revolution – and it’s just in time to capture what could be a very profound bull cycle in commodities overall. Shifting focus a bit, how do you think AI could most positively impact mines already in production?
AI has the potential to positively impact mines that are already in production in a number of ways. Some examples include:
- Predictive maintenance: AI-powered systems can analyze
sensor data from equipment and predict when maintenance is needed, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency. - Optimizing production: AI can be used to optimize the production process, for example by adjusting the feed rate of ore to the mill, to increase production and decrease costs.
- Safety: AI-powered systems can monitor the mining environment for potential safety hazards, such as gas leaks or rockfalls, and alert workers in real-time, improving safety in mines.
- Autonomous vehicles: Self-driving vehicles can be used in mining operations to move ore, waste and equipment
around the mine site, reducing the need for human workers
to perform these tasks. - Mineral processing: AI-powered systems can be used to optimize the mineral processing operations, for example by controlling the flow of material, adjusting the speed of conveyors, and adjusting the feed rate to the flotation cells, to improve the recovery of minerals and reduce costs.
- Environmental monitoring: AI-powered systems can
be used to monitor the environment around the mine, for example by monitoring water quality and air quality, to ensure that the mine is operating in compliance with
regulations and to minimize the impact on the environment. - Inventory management: AI-powered systems can be used to manage inventory, for example by keeping track of the amount of ore in the stockpile, to optimize the loading and hauling of ore, and to reduce costs.
In summary, AI has the potential to positively impact mines that are already in production by increasing efficiency, improving safety, reducing costs and environmental impact, and optimizing production. It’s important to note that AI is not a silver bullet, and it should be used in conjunction with other technologies and human expertise, to achieve the best results.
I think safety and automation are always big topics around mining. I’ve heard about using AI for things like predicting accidents, could this be something that could be used in mining?
Yes, AI can be used to predict accidents in mining. One example is using AI-powered systems to analyze sensor data from equipment, such as vibration data from a conveyor belt, to predict when a failure is likely to occur. This allows maintenance crews to fix the problem before it becomes a safety hazard. Additionally, AI can be used to monitor the mining environment for potential safety hazards, such as gas leaks or rock falls, and alert workers in real-time, improving safety in mines.
AI can also be used to analyze data from cameras and other sensors, to detect and classify objects in the mine, such as vehicles and people. This can be used to track the location of vehicles and people in the mine, and to detect potential collisions.
AI can also be used to monitor the behavior of workers; for example, by analyzing data from wearable devices, such as smart watches, to detect when a worker is tired or stressed, and to alert them to take a break.
Overall, AI can be used in mining to predict accidents and improve safety in a number of ways, by analyzing data from sensors, cameras, and other sources, and by providing real-time alerts to workers and maintenance crews. These technologies can be used to identify and mitigate safety hazards, improve worker safety, and even predict accidents before they happen, which will be a big advantage for the mining industry.
This is all very exciting – I feel like many mine sites are already collecting a lot of this information, AI could be the perfect tool to tie all this together and serve as a powerful heads-up system.
Yes, that’s right. Many mines are already collecting a lot of data from sensors and cameras, but the challenge is making sense of all that data and turning it into actionable information. AI can be used to analyze this data in real-time and extract insights that would be difficult or impossible for humans to see. By doing so, it can help improve safety, efficiency, and productivity in the mine.
By predicting equipment failures, for example, AI can help prevent downtime and lost productivity. And by monitoring the environment for safety hazards, it can help prevent accidents and injuries. By detecting and tracking vehicles and people in the mine, it can help prevent collisions and other safety incidents.
Additionally, AI can also be used to optimize the operation of the mine, for example by analyzing data from sensors on vehicles and equipment, to optimize routes and schedules, and by analyzing data from cameras and other sensors, to optimize the loading and hauling of materials.
Overall, AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for mining companies, providing real-time insights that can improve safety, efficiency, and productivity in the mine.
Fantastic. This is a lot of great information, and it’s clear AI is going to have a huge impact on mining from exploration through operations and probably even during reclamation and monitoring to some extent.
Yes, that’s correct. AI has the potential to revolutionize the mining industry by providing new ways to find and extract minerals, improve safety, efficiency and productivity. Additionally, AI can also be used for reclamation and monitoring after the mine is closed. For example, AI can be used to analyze aerial and satellite images to monitor the progress of reclamation and restoration efforts, and to detect and predict environmental impacts.
AI can also be used to monitor the long-term stability of tailings dams, waste rock piles, and other mining infrastructure. It can analyze data from sensors and cameras to detect signs of instability or failure, and provide early warning of potential hazards.
AI can be a valuable tool for mining companies throughout the entire mining life cycle, from exploration to operation, reclamation and monitoring.
About the author: Stuart Burgess is the chairman and co-founder of Burgex Mining Consultants.