This Tesla Veteran Is Running A Copper Mine With AI-Powered Robots

Turner Caldwell, CEO of Mariana Minerals, is using AI-powered robots to run a copper mine, betting on AI's next big use beyond chatbots. His startup launched the world's first autonomous mining operation at its Copper One mine in Utah, utilizing automated drills, robotic haul trucks, and an AI platform called Mariana OS to direct operations. Boston Dynamics' Spot robot dog, equipped with sensors, patrols the 10,000-acre site. This initiative aims to boost US copper supply and refining, with projections of hundreds of millions in revenue from the Utah mine and a Texas lithium refining operation. Caldwell expects 30% reduction in refining costs and 40-50% in mining costs through end-to-end autonomy. Mariana's platform analyzes real-time sensor data and communicates between automated equipment. The company, backed by $100 million from tech VCs, plans to produce 50,000 tons of refined copper annually by 2030 from new and recycled sources. The mine, previously shut due to high costs and labor shortages, will now use automation to overcome workforce challenges, shifting human roles to technical and maintenance staff. Caldwell, a Tesla veteran, applies AI tools like reinforcement learning, similar to those in self-driving vehicles, to mining.