Pentagon’s AI metals program goes private in bid to boost Western supply deals

A US government-created artificial intelligence program that aims to predict the supply and price of critical minerals has been transferred to the control of a non-profit organisation that is helping miners and manufacturers strike supply deals. Launched in late 2023 by the U.S. Department of Defense, the Open Price Exploration for National Security AI metals program is an attempt to counter China’s sweeping control of the critical minerals sector, as Reuters reported last year

Now, more than 30 mining companies, manufacturers and investors -…