Episode 79: The cobalt craze (!) & AI in mining ft. IBM

We're going high-tech this week with a focus on technological metals and the future of big data in the mining industry. Matt chats with Cobalt 27 Capital’s (TSXV: KBLT) chairman and CEO Anthony Milewski (7:30) about the rising interest in technology metals like cobalt (13:00) and lithium. Anthony talks about his recent visit to LME Week in London, England, where he heard some bullish talk about the mid-term outlooks for copper and nickel (18:00). We also discuss a recent announcement by Volkswagen (US-OTC: VLKAY) and the near-term applications of lithium-ion battery technologies for civil power grids (13:48). Matt then sits down with Kevin Reardon (27:30), ‎Energy and Mining Advisor at IBM's (NYSE: IBM; LON: IBM) Natural Resources Solution Centre, at The Northern Miner's Progressive Mine Forum (PMF). We dig into the potential applications of big data and machine learning in the mining industry. Kevin outlines IBM's approach to the natural resource sectors and how he thinks technology might impact everything from exploration to production. We specifically chat about IBM's Watson artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and teaching computers to think like geologists and engineers (29:00)! Articles referenced: Cobalt 27 offers ‘pure play’: http://www.northernminer.com/news/cobalt-27-wants-offer-pure-play-battery-metal-exposure/1003787537/ Editorial: Iamgold’s Letwin tells of hard lessons learned in keynote at PMF: www.northernminer.com/people-in-mini…mf/1003790723/ Video: Progressive Mine Forum 2017: www.northernminer.com/news/progressi…am/1003790631/ Music Credits: "Exciting Trailer" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Isolated" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/