As artificial intelligence continues to make waves across industries, the mining sector is no exception. But as the technology evolves, so must our understanding of what it means to use it responsibly – and who should be held accountable.
This is the timely message that PETRA CEO Dr Penny Stewart will share at two major events this year: the Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) Brisbane Forum in July and the APCOM 2025 Conference in August.
Dr Stewart will build on ideas the company first explored at the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute Memorial Lecture in late 2023.
The concept of trustworthy AI was delved into – a term that’s become increasingly common in global policy frameworks. But in the months since that presentation, the PETRA team’s thinking has further developed, shaped by continued industry engagement and practical experience.
“The idea of trustworthy AI is valuable when governments are trying to legislate protections for the public, especially in areas like social media or consumer tech,” says Dr Stewart. “But in the context of mining, I believe the focus needs to shift. We already have strong systems in place – health and safety legislation, commercial agreements, and supplier contracts, for example – that create accountability for AI’s safe and reliable use.”
Since 2017, PETRA has led the way in practical AI applications in mining, developing machine learning models that are now deployed at mines.
With this deep practical experience, the PETRA team questions whether trust is even the right word to use when we talk about AI systems.
“What we really want isn’t to trust the AI itself – it’s to be confident that the people building, testing, and deploying these systems are doing so responsibly,” Penny explains. “That confidence comes from audits, regulations, warranties, and legal agreements – not vague notions of trust.”
The upcoming presentations will reflect PETRA’s engineering-led, experience-driven approach, and explore:
- the limitations of the trustworthy AI label in industrial settings
- how standard mining contracts already address AI-related risks
- the role of engineering accountability in AI deployment
- the importance of change management and workforce trust in value delivery.
PETRA’s message is clear: AI in mining doesn’t need new buzzwords. It needs to be treated like any other technology – with clear standards, oversight, and accountability.
These upcoming speaking engagements will offer mining leaders and technology providers a practical, experience-driven perspective on AI implementation that aligns with safety, performance, and legal compliance.
GMG Brisbane Forum is scheduled for July 16-17 at the University of Queensland, and the APCOM Conference is in Perth from August 10-13, 2025.
For more information on/or to attend the conferences, visit:
Learn more about our work at PETRA: www.petradatascience.com.
*APCOM stands for Application of Computers and Operations Research in the Minerals Industry.
