Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the mining industry faster than expected. According to the new report “Unlocking the Future of Mining – A Global Survey on AI Adoption and Industry Transformation,” released today by Mind the Bridge and BHP, in collaboration with Austmine and Innovación Minera del Perú, nearly 70% of global mining companies are already integrating AI-driven technologies into their operations — a clear sign that the sector is moving from experimentation to full-scale deployment.

Presented today during the MTB Scaleup Summit Sydney 2025 and in correspondence with the IMARC conference, the report highlights how investment in AI for mining is projected to reach $900 million in 2025, with Australia commanding 74% of total global capital in this fast-evolving field.

The study, based on extensive interviews with mining executives worldwide, reveals that the industry has shifted from experimentation to large-scale adoption of AI and digital technologies. What began as pilot projects has now evolved into full integration of AI systems across predictive maintenance, process simulation, and real-time monitoring — signaling a new era of efficiency, safety, and competitiveness.

“Mining is no longer testing proofs-of-concept; it’s investing in proven technologies that deliver measurable impact,” said Marco Marinucci, CEO of Mind the Bridge. “This is the moment when data, AI, and automation converge to redefine operational excellence.”

Key Findings

  • AI investment soars — from less than $200M in 2020 to $900M in 2025.
  • Median deal sizes in Mining Tech startups nearly tripled to $8.7M.
  • Consolidation accelerates — 62% of all AI technology investment now occurs through M&A, as miners secure critical capabilities rather than building them internally.
  • Early-stage startups capture only around 10% of total capital, as operators prefer consolidation, partnerships, and co-development to accelerate the industrialization of proven solutions.
  • Australia leads globally, accounting for nearly three-quarters of all AI for mining investment, far ahead of China (12%) and the US (9%).
  • Operational adoption outpaces hype — predictive maintenance, process modeling, and real-time monitoring are now the core AI use cases scaling across global mining sites.

A growing ecosystem of MiningTech scaleups

Historically, miners’ innovation has stemmed from in-house development and collaborations with academia and large engineering groups rather than emerging technology providers such as startups and scaleups, and this structure largely persists today.

The data signals that established technology providers in the mining sector are decisively buying answers from proven entities rather than supporting the early development of emerging players. However, miners’ approach to open innovation has now reached an inflection point.

The industry is no longer testing proofs-of-concept; it is selecting technologies that have proven their performance in live operations, generate strong ROI, and integrate seamlessly across complex production systems.

“Mining is evolving rapidly, and the possibilities are greater than ever.” said Katie Hulmes, Head of Innovation Ecosystem at BHP. “Ecosystems are essential to this journey. By welcoming innovators, inventors, researchers, OEMs, and established vendors into our ecosystem, we are building a collaborative community that accelerates progress and opens new opportunities for everyone involved.”

The full report is available for download at https://app.mtbecosystem.com.