Barrick’s North American business has selected Avathon’s Autonomy Platform as a strategic technology partner as the miner moves to connect data, operational knowledge and artificial intelligence across its mining value chain. The initiative is designed to support operations from exploration and mine planning through safety, production, processing, maintenance and supply chain activities.
The development gives AI in mining a broader operational role, with the platform intended to continuously analyse conditions, identify risks and opportunities, support decisions and help coordinate actions across critical functions. Rather than applying artificial intelligence to a single process, the deployment is being structured around a connected operating model across Barrick’s North American gold assets.
Connected AI Targets Mining Performance
Avathon’s platform is designed to create a common intelligence layer across operational systems and data sources. Its Computational Knowledge Graph connects assets, processes, people, constraints and operational data, allowing AI agents to analyse that information in context and support operational workflows.
The approach expands the potential use of AI in mining across several areas. Safety applications are expected to use computer vision and AI-based monitoring to identify hazardous conditions and unsafe behaviour, allowing earlier intervention. Production and recovery applications are intended to connect ore flow, processing decisions, maintenance activities and operational constraints to improve recovery, reduce variability and increase throughput.
Asset reliability is another targeted area, with the platform expected to monitor equipment health, identify potential failures and recommend maintenance actions. In supply chain operations, the system is designed to connect asset health, planned maintenance, inventory, supplier performance and demand forecasts to improve material readiness and reduce supply chain risks.
Mine planning and exploration are also included in the proposed applications. Artificial intelligence can be applied to operational data and constraints to support planning and scheduling, while geological, operational and production data can be analysed to support exploration decisions.
AI Expands Across the Mining Value Chain
The broader objective is to establish AI in mining as a connected operating capability rather than a collection of isolated applications. Barrick’s North American business plans to use the platform across functions that influence safety, production, maintenance, supply chain performance and mine development.
The strategy also keeps human expertise within the operating model. Avathon’s platform is intended to provide continuous analysis, prediction, reasoning and decision support, while Barrick’s mining professionals retain operational judgment, accountability and control.
This human oversight forms part of the approach to deploying AI in mining across operational environments. Internal governance and safeguards are intended to support responsible deployment as the platform’s capabilities develop.
The initial applications are expected to improve visibility across mining operations by connecting information that has traditionally been managed through separate functions and systems. For Barrick, the deployment is aimed at building a more integrated operating model across its North American gold business, with potential applications spanning exploration, mine planning, production, processing, maintenance and supply chain management.
The selection of Avathon marks a strategic step toward expanding AI in mining across Barrick’s North American operations, while the company evaluates how connected artificial intelligence and human expertise can work together across its mining value chain.