August is Mining Month in Chile, and this year it comes at a key moment for the sector’s technological transformation. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a promise or an experiment. According to figures reported in AI in the Global Mining Industry Statistics by Wifitalents, the global AI in mining market could reach US$3.2 billion by 2026, with an annual growth rate of nearly 40%. More than 45% of mining companies worldwide have already integrated some form of AI technology into their operations. But the most significant impact isn’t always where everyone is looking.
For years, the conversation around mining innovation has been dominated by spectacular images: autonomous trucks moving across sites, sensors deployed in remote tunnels, robots working underground. But at Pharu Analytics, we have seen that the real transformation also happens in the decisions that optimize and sustain the core of mining operations.
Today, AI can support everything from the precise selection of personnel for operations in extreme zones—taking into account location, experience, and skills—to the predictive maintenance of critical machinery, anticipating failures and scheduling interventions before production comes to a halt. It can also optimize internal transportation to reduce equipment transfer times, or consolidate scattered data from multiple areas to generate strategic reports in minutes.
Another example is third-party contract management. In companies that handle thousands of active contracts involving thousands of workers, AI can audit, prioritize, and anticipate issues, reducing errors and freeing up teams’ time for strategic tasks. And in sustainability, tools such as digital twins or intelligent monitoring systems are helping to improve energy efficiency and environmental care.
These cases do not require massive investments or highly complex technological developments. On the contrary: they demonstrate that AI can be applied in a concrete, accessible, and scalable way, provided it is designed with a deep understanding of the operational context and the mining business.
At Pharu, we believe that artificial intelligence is not about chasing what sounds most attractive or futuristic, but about delivering real value from day one. It’s about starting with solutions that address specific problems, measuring their impact, and scaling from there. Chilean mining has the talent, experience, and capacity to lead a transformation based on data, intelligent decisions, and solutions tailored to the territory.
Beyond autonomous trucks, AI is already changing Chilean mining. And it is doing so from within, one concrete improvement at a time.
