Alrosa has partnered with Sber, a leading Russian financial and technology services provider, to harness artificial intelligence (AI) for transforming mining operations. The two giants signed an agreement of intent at the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, with Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev and Sberbank Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov formalising the collaboration.
The partnership will focus on developing and deploying AI-powered digital tools, including computer vision, image recognition, and video analytics, to reduce human error and enhance operational oversight. These technologies will support real-time monitoring of production volumes, quality control, equipment diagnostics, and road safety at mining sites.
A key focus will be the integration of large language models (LLMs) into Alrosa’s workflows. These AI-driven assistants will streamline document preparation, automate data analysis, and enable instant search through vast geological archives. By using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture, Alrosa employees will be able to retrieve accurate answers from tens of thousands of reports within seconds.
The collaboration also includes joint research, algorithm development, creation of training datasets, and knowledge sharing in machine learning. These efforts aim to optimise Alrosa’s production, logistics, and administrative processes—boosting efficiency and reducing costs.
Highlighting the significance of the move, Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev said, “Digitalisation is a strategic direction for Alrosa. Our ambitious AI roadmap, in partnership with Sber, marks a new chapter in operational innovation and sustainability.”
Sberbank’s Anatoly Popov added, “Alrosa produces over a quarter of the world’s diamonds, making it a vital partner. AI technologies like computer vision and LLMs will unlock unprecedented gains in productivity and product quality. This partnership cements our commitment to co-develop cutting-edge solutions that position Alrosa at the forefront of global diamond mining.”