With the rapid expansion of the clean energy economy, the search for critical minerals and metals is becoming increasingly vital. These resources are essential for manufacturing electric vehicles, solar panels, and hydrogen fuel cells. Traditionally, extracting these precious metals has required a time-consuming and costly process, but advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are beginning to revolutionize the industry.
Several companies are leading this technological shift, including Kobold Metals, VerAI, and Earth AI. Earth AI, in particular, is reshaping how mineral exploration is conducted by integrating AI-powered discovery software with proprietary drilling technology, using data that spans five decades.
Roman Teslyuk, CEO of Earth AI, explains that the system is trained using historical data from decades of geological exploration. By learning from both past successes and failures, the AI can make highly accurate predictions about where to find new metal deposits. Once a potential discovery is identified, Earth AI can verify it by drilling a hole no larger than a tennis ball. This innovative approach significantly reduces both the cost and time typically required for mineral exploration.
According to Teslyuk, this technology allows drilling to depths of up to 2,000 feet, reaching rock samples that have never been exposed to light. These undiscovered deposits have the potential to provide the metals needed for producing hundreds of millions of electric vehicles, supporting the transition to renewable energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Rather than exploring areas around existing mines, Earth AI focuses on identifying entirely new deposits. Once discoveries are confirmed, the company sells this valuable information to mining firms. This strategy taps into the growing demand for essential minerals and presents a lucrative opportunity for the mining sector.
The company’s innovative approach has attracted significant investment. Jamie Lee, managing partner at Tamarack Global, highlighted Earth AI’s unique business model and the competitive advantage offered by its AI-driven technology. Backers of the company include Y Combinator, Cantos Ventures, Scrum Ventures, Alpaca, Sparkwave Capital, and Overmatch, with a total of $38 million raised to date.
Earth AI also collaborates with partners to accelerate mineral discoveries. In a recent breakthrough, the company, in partnership with Legacy Minerals, uncovered one of Australia’s largest verified palladium deposits using its cutting-edge AI technology.
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