Austrian Startup Uses AI to Find Valuable Minerals at Lower Cost

Austrian startup Earth AI raised $20 million this month to expand its mineral-hunting operations. The company found three valuable metals—molybdenum, palladium, and lead-silver—in 2023 while spending only $2.1 million. That's roughly one-tenth the cost of traditional mining exploration. The breakthrough suggests artificial intelligence could transform how we discover the raw materials needed for batteries, electronics, and other modern goods.