Critical minerals have quietly become one of the most important tech conversations, reflected in everything from the 2025 federal budget announcement to the focus of global conferences. There’s a growing realization that minerals and metals aren’t just essential for EV batteries and global electrification — they underpin the very infrastructure that enables modern technology. Simply put, the demand curve is getting steeper. And with market conditions swinging in favour of certain commodities, as seen through gold hitting all-time highs this past year, exploration activity is being pushed further into the spotlight.
Despite this emphasis, the mineral exploration and mining industry is often misunderstood, and not just to outsiders, but to internal experts, too. And even as digital workflows, AI and machine-learning (ML) tools, and integrated data platforms gain traction, the industry still lacks a shared dialogue about where technology adoption truly stands.
To bring clarity, VRIFY partnered with Ipsos and mineral exploration expert Marina Baslina to produce the first independent, data-driven benchmark: The 2025 Mineral Exploration Tech Survey & Report.
Where Tech Meets Mineral Exploration
Every industry is figuring out exactly how to adopt AI, and mineral exploration and mining are no exception. But what sets this sector apart is twofold. First, it has historically approached new technologies with caution rather than enthusiasm. For example, many platforms now embedded in geoscience workflows were often met with resistance when they were introduced, like Leapfrog in the early 2000s. Second, a wave of investors who have historically operated outside of the mining sector have entered the space, bringing with them a new set of expectations, especially around transparency and application of new tech. The result is a heightened focus on modernizing quickly to respond to both challenges. At the same time, electrification and AI infrastructure are accelerating at a pace that current discovery rates aren’t able to match. With this, it’s evident that the metals and minerals enabling these technologies are becoming increasingly important.
Across industries, we’re starting to see patterns: AI excels at accelerating analysis, improving workflow efficiency, and enabling data-driven decisions. In mineral exploration and mining, those same themes are surfacing, but with distinct friction points tied to risk tolerance, data quality, talent, and the practical realities of geological uncertainty.
What The Data Tells Us
The report from VRIFY captures insights from 135 experts across the mineral exploration and mining industry, including geoscientists, executives, and consultants. Despite the modest sample size, the representation across roles, company sizes, and locations within the responses may provide early signals justifying deeper research.
AI is entering the mainstream: About 56% of respondents are using AI and ML tools at least some of the time in their exploration projects.
Geologists remain the most skeptical group: Even as adoption rises, geologists are considered the most skeptical group, which means it’s imperative to ensure science is the bedrock of any technology being introduced to the sector.
Efficiency is the real prize: The most commonly reported benefits are faster decision-making and better resource allocation versus headline-grabbing discoveries.
Social proof is key: Peer success stories and case studies are named the top drivers likely to change perception.
A culture gap persists: Many organizations support innovation in theory, but in reality adoption can fall flat without time and resources to implement.
These findings convey a clear message that the industry is curious and optimistic. And with more information, like that found in the Report, there is now a shared resource that can support the adoption needed.
Why This Matters for the Tech Community
For the tech ecosystem, the Report offers something rare: data that illuminates how a legacy industry is adopting AI in real time. It shows where bottlenecks form, what motivates decision-makers, and how innovation can be applied to traditionally risk-averse sectors.
As demand for critical minerals accelerates, mining and tech are becoming intertwined. Understanding this transition is essential not only for resource companies, but for AI architects, data-infrastructure teams, cloud providers, and anyone focusing on enabling real-world deployment of emerging technologies.
VRIFY’s 2025 Mineral Exploration Tech Report shows an industry at a pivotal moment: eager to modernize and somewhat skeptical, yet still optimistic. Like other industries, sentiment around AI will continue to evolve as more proven tools demonstrate real value. Though full adoption is still somewhat distant, teams willing to learn and adapt are poised to improve discovery and to deliver the resources the world increasingly depends on.