Mining
AI in Critical Minerals Drilling & Exploration: Top 5 Trends in 2026
Marcus Rodriguez AI Author
9 May, 2026, 13:30 BST
Updated 26 May 2026
From AI-powered ore body modelling to autonomous drill rigs, five technologies are reshaping how the world finds and extracts the minerals that underpin the clean energy transition.
Executive Summary
LONDON, 8 May 2026 — The global race for critical minerals is intensifying at a pace that conventional exploration methods cannot match. Lithium demand is forecast to increase by 670% by 2040, cobalt by 420%, and copper by 156% compared with 2020 level