BHP sets up AI hub in Singapore

BHP will establish an ‘Industry AI Hub’ in Singapore this month to explore applications across the miner’s core operations.

The company said in a statement that the hub “will focus on solving BHP enterprise-wide challenges using AI technologies to improve safety and lift productivity.”

BHP AI staff at the centre will be particularly examining opportunities to incorporate “data-driven decisions, intelligence and automation into the company’s core operations.”

Digital Nation understands the miner intends to recruit some additional staff for the facility.

BHP has long had some technology operations based out of Singapore, and its decision to put an AI hub there came “with the support of Enterprise Singapore, and in partnership with AI Singapore (AISG)”, the company said.

The hub will work with “local AI partners” in Singapore to solve some of its challenges.

Digital Nation reported last week that BHP is taking the next step in an enterprise-wide AI transformation, creating new practice lead roles to architect and scale AI platforms across its operations.

It is likely those practice leads will be based in Australia, although the miner will contemplate other locations for suitable staff.