The gold mining industry is on the verge of a major technological revolution. At the Future Minerals Forum, an international conference held in Saudi Arabia, Alexey Vostokov, CEO of Polyus, presented a strategic forecast for the industry’s development over the next decade. The key trend is clear: a shift from traditional methods to the creation of fully autonomous process plants.
According to forecasts, by as early as 2035, the management of every major deposit will be transferred to its own AI-powered cognitive center. This is not simply the automation of individual functions, but the creation of a unified intelligent model. This model will transform the process plant into a smart mechanism capable of operating without the constant presence of people in hazardous production areas.
Artificial intelligence is becoming an instrument for ultra-precise configuration. Algorithms can automatically adjust equipment performance, providing three strategic advantages:
- Maximum recovery: AI identifies preferable processing parameters that are imperceptible to the human eye.
- Resource efficiency: reduced energy consumption and material usage.
- Environmental sustainability: in the long term, the industry aims to transition to a green mining model with minimal waste generation.
Despite concerns, widespread digitalization will not result in large-scale job cuts. Alexey Vostokov emphasized that the role of employees is evolving. Workplaces are moving from workshops and open pits to safe and comfortable control centers.
The employees of the future will be highly skilled operators and coordinators of complex systems. In addition, AI will take on responsibility for safety: monitoring systems will be able to track the condition of personnel, preventing accidents caused by human error.
The transition to autonomy is not some distant plan, but a process that is already underway. A prime example is the Production Control Center in Krasnoyarsk Territory at Olimpiada.
The system is already operating within a unified outline, tracking the entire cycle — from drilling and blasting to the final ore processing. This approach has already enabled the Company to minimize equipment downtime and significantly improve overall production efficiency. A similar project was implemented at another Polyus asset — in Yakutia — where a Production Control Center was also launched in 2025, serving as the «digital brain» of the entire business unit.
Over the next 10 years, the mining industry will move beyond traditional models for good. Advanced digitalization and an AI-driven approach will make gold mining not only more profitable, but also safer, more sustainable and better equipped to withstand the challenges of a changing world.