Artificial intelligence is no longer a buzzword in mining. It is the industry’s next strategic battleground. At Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026, the conversation will move beyond hype to hard realities as leaders dissect the rise of Agentic AI, technology that does not just process information but thinks, acts, and decides for itself.

For decades, mining has been shaped by incremental efficiency gains and cautious digital adoption. Agentic AI represents something different: an inflection point. This new wave of intelligent autonomy promises to reshape operations, safety, energy use, and governance across the value chain. Those who act now will define the next era of mining. Those who hesitate risk being left behind.

From hype to imperative

Where generative AI can create insights from data, agentic AI goes further. It actively pursues goals, engages external systems, pulls live data from the web, and triggers real-time decisions. In mining, this means everything from fleet optimisation and tyre wear reduction to predictive maintenance and round-the-clock safety monitoring.

“Agentic AI presents exciting potential for miners,” says Shaun Mitchell, CEO of mining data solutions company MaxMine. “From monitoring and scheduling maintenance to enhancing decision making, agentic AI is poised to play a transformational role in the future of mining.”

Opinion leaders across technology and mining agree: this is not automation as usual. “Artificial intelligence is an imperative, not an option!” warns Joseph Starwood, Global Mining Expert at Microsoft. “AI heralds a transformative era for the mining industry within the next decade. Board members must extend the same level of oversight and governance to AI management as they do to other corporate matters.”

Komatsu recently announced a strategic technology collaboration with Applied Intuition, a Silicon Valley-based company at the forefront of vehicle intelligence. This collaboration aims to provide cutting-edge technologies and real-time adaptability to Komatsu’s next-generation mining equipment, helping customers boost productivity, reduce downtime and operate with greater precision and efficiency.

“The partnership with Applied Intuition extends Komatsu's current autonomy solutions and enables advanced Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) and autonomy platforms for Komatsu’s future mining equipment. Our customers will benefit through improved platforms, modernised user interfaces and enhanced lifespan of equipment," says Wicus Burger, Managing Director of Komatsu Africa.

Beyond efficiency: Safety, strategy, and human potential

Agentic AI’s promise is not only about efficiency. Safety is front and centre, with systems capable of integrating sensor, camera, and worker device data to predict and prevent accidents in real time.

“In mining, agentic AI can deliver 24/7 dynamic safety monitoring and intervention,” says futurist Ian Khan. “Mining has long had technology embedded in its marrow, but this is a step change.”

The disruption extends to strategy and leadership. As Pascal Bornet, Author of Agentic Artificial Intelligence, explains: “The printing press democratised knowledge. The internet connected humanity. AI, in its agentic form, has the potential to amplify human capabilities in ways that we are only beginning to comprehend.”

The urgency of now

History shows mining adapts slowly until it does not. With investor expectations, sustainability pressures, and competitive margins at stake, agentic AI is no longer an interesting trend. It is a strategic imperative.

Upskilling, cultural transformation, and cross-industry collaboration will be essential to unlock its benefits. “This is not just about tools,” says Khan. “It is about mindset. Mining leaders must act now.

"Agentic AI is not just the next wave of technology; it is mining’s strategic reset. While Africa has yet to scale autonomous ecosystems, the chance to leapfrog is enormous. Embedding intelligence across operations, supply chains, and safety systems can reveal unseen value hidden from today’s aging approaches. Aligning miners, governments, investors, and stakeholders is essential to ensure Africa converts unseen value into sustainable growth and global competitiveness. Mining Indaba 2026 (MI26) is the moment to define and claim the future of mining." - Akash Singh, Principal IT Architect at Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Where the future is decided

Agentic AI and the wider wave of disruptive technologies will dominate the agenda at Investing in African Mining Indaba 2026, set to take place from 9 to 12 February 2026 at the CTICC in Cape Town.

Mark your calendar now for these sessions shaping the industry’s future:

• AI in mining: separating the hype from reality
• Tech-enabled permitting for faster futures
• Smarter energy use in crushing and milling
• AI-based optimisation of exploration, mining and mineral processing

The Disruptive Technology agenda at Mining Indaba 2026 will define the blueprint for how agentic AI and other frontier technologies can transform mining into a smarter, safer, and more sustainable industry.

Mining Indaba has been the industry’s definitive platform for over 30 years, bringing together governments, investors, communities, and industry pioneers. In 2026, it once again provides the stage where the mining world will confront its future.

The question is no longer if mining will be transformed by AI, but how quickly leaders are willing to act.