The latest technologies, such as AI, neutral networks, and deep learning, were now of great importance regarding minerals exploration. But human field work remained essential. This was the consensus in a panel discussion on Thursday, the final day of the 2026 Africa Mining Indaba Conference, being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

"Data is key, even if we are going to be using AI," affirmed Falcon Metal Resources Africa Chief Exploration Officer Khumoetsile Dikupa. "You need more, standardised, data to feed into the AI. You need input from the 'boots-on-the-ground'. We're using AI 40%, and 60% goes to boots-on-the-ground, to experience. We're still having that fear: what the AI is telling us -- is it really [so] on the ground?"

He highlighted that AI had already allowed the company to identify and define a kimberlite pipe. "It's looking bright!"

The combination of AI with boots-on-the-ground experience would be very effective. "There has to be integration, continuous integration, between boots-on-the-ground and AI," he insisted. "Where experience gives AI some intellectual commands. For dealing with uncertainties, for de-risking, AI is essential."

"There is still a discussion in the industry -- AI versus geologists; we have to get over this," asserted Ans Exploration Group CEO Christopher Schmidt. Both were needed. AI could be used to process data from various sources, including satellites, to identify targets. Then prospecting licenses could be obtained (this was the time-delaying process, as it could take a year or more, he observed). And then you deployed the geologists. The samples collected by the geologists would then be analysed (his company had its own laboratory in Ethiopia, for example) and the results fed back to the field geologists as rapidly as possible, via tablets, to allow them to abandon unpromising areas and focus on the promising ones. Such a feedback loop was essential, although not easily applicable in all geological environments. 

"We need geologists in the field, still!" he stressed. But AI could keep them focused.

"AI is important in targeting, from an exploration perspective," observed Botswana Diamonds MD James Campbell. It shortened the process. But it had to be combined with human experience.

For junior miners, however, AI had another facet, he highlighted: as a capital de-risking tool for investors. They wanted to know what data a junior had, and how that would allow it to identify and focus on its best prospects and relinquish less-promising prospects (and so save on prospecting fees). AI was very useful in this regard.

Regarding exploration, he explained that you collected and analysed all the accessible data, for which AI was very beneficial, before you put boots-on-the-ground. But AI models were only as good as the data they were provided with. They needed constant updating.

"One musn't underestimate thinking about new geological models," he cautioned. "We musn't be blinkered that AI will always give us the best results. We must [also] partner with academic geologists creating new geological models."