Beijing: China has deployed artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor non-coal mines in an unprecedented move aimed at enhancing mining safety, as reported by China Daily. This initiative marks the first deployment of AI technology in the non-coal mining sector, showcasing China's commitment to advancing safety measures.

According to Anadolu Agency, the AI system was introduced on March 12 and demonstrated its effectiveness last month by detecting an emergency situation 580 meters underground, promptly triggering alarms. This innovative system was made possible through the integration of the DeepSeek model into a monitoring framework developed by Hubei Lonmon Phosphorus Chemical Co., based in China's central Hubei province.

Deputy General Manager Dong Songwu explained that their engineers collected data during the day, while refining AI algorithms in the lab at night. They converted decades of mining accident reports, numerous national and industry safety regulations, and millions of monitoring datasets into valuable training resources.

Earlier in 2023, the company's technology team tested several foreign AI models but faced challenges adapting them to the complex geological conditions in China, leading to repeated failures. However, a breakthrough came with the introduction of the DeepSeek model, which offered advanced semantic understanding and multimodal processing capabilities, providing the team with a promising new direction.

The AI system autonomously detects hazards, initiates corrective actions, and coordinates with other systems to address violations and trigger alarms, thus significantly enhancing efficiency and safety in non-coal mines.