Pioneers of AI Mining the minerals to power AI
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Apr 22, 2026 
Josh Goldman, co-founder and president of KoBold Metals, uses physics and AI to hunt for copper, lithium and other critical minerals. He explains how multimodal data, digitized archives and sensors make exploration faster and more ethical. He also discusses rising costs, geopolitics, and why new mining remains necessary alongside recycling.
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Copper Demand Will Outstrip Historical Production
- The AI and battery economy will drive unprecedented copper demand requiring more copper mined in the next 25 years than all prior human history.
- Josh Goldman links this to electrification, data centers, and AI infrastructure creating massive long-term tailwinds.
Raisin Bread Explains Hidden Ore Deposits
- Josh Goldman compares ore deposits to raisins in a loaf of bread to explain why many deposits exist but are often concealed.
- He explains surface erosion reveals only some "raisins" while many deposits remain buried and discoverable with the right recipe knowledge.
Finding Ore Is A Multimodal Data Problem
- Mineral discovery is a high‑dimensional problem requiring multiple data types because single datasets rarely reveal concealed deposits.
- Josh Goldman lists satellite imagery, soil geochemistry, airborne magnetics/gravity, and integrated signals as essential.