Artificial Intelligence in Future Mining, Chapter 7: Green mining with artificial intelligence: a path to sustainability

Mining is a vital industry for supplying essential minerals crucial for technological advancement in engineering, medicine, and various other fields. Efforts to improve productivity, especially for strategic minerals, have accelerated with automation and artificial intelligence (AI). However, the rapid growth of this industry has raised concerns among researchers regarding sustainable development. This chapter examines the impact of AI in mines on sustainable development, considering social, economic, and environmental factors. Studies show that AI can positively affect environmental sustainability by reducing negative impacts and monitoring pollution. Yet, the significant initial capital required for infrastructure may challenge economic sustainability, though justifying this cost can enhance long-term economic viability. AI may increase knowledge and create new jobs while simultaneously reducing employment opportunities for manual laborers. Further comprehensive studies are necessary to establish frameworks ensuring that the use of AI aligns with sustainable development goals across all indicators.