Will AI replace Roof Bolters, Mining?

AI can do 0% of the work Roof Bolters, Mining do at least twice as fast. None of their 14 tasks show real AI use yet. Robots can technically handle 11 physical tasks. 3 still need a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next0 · 0% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • No other tasks in this job can be sped up by AI today.

Robots can technically do this11 · 84% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Drill bolt holes into roofs at specified distances from ribs or adjacent bolts.Robots: purpose built settings23% of time
  • Force bolts into holes, using hydraulic mechanisms of self-propelled bolting machines.Robots: purpose built settings14% of time
  • Position bolting machines, and insert drill bits into chucks.Robots: purpose built settings11% of time
  • Install various types of bolts, including truss, glue, and resin bolts, traversing entire ceiling spans.Robots: purpose built settings11% of time
  • Remove drill bits from chucks after drilling holes, and insert bolts into chucks.Robots: purpose built settings6% of time
  • Rotate chucks to turn bolts and open expansion heads against rock formations.Robots: structured workplaces5% of time
  • Dust rocks after bolting.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
  • Perform tests to determine if methane gas is present.Robots: structured workplaces3% of time
  • Position safety jacks to support underground mine roofs until bolts can be installed.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time
  • Drill test holes and test bolts for specified tension, using torque wrenches.Robots: purpose built settings2% of time
  • Tighten ends of anchored truss bolts, using turnbuckles.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time

Still needs a person3 · 16% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Pull down loose rock that cannot be supported.6% of time
  • Perform ventilation tasks, such as hanging ventilation curtains and tubes.6% of time
  • Perform safety checks on equipment before operating.5% of time

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 84% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.

What to do next

  • Keep an eye on the 11 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 3 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Continuous Mining Machine Operators6%Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining8%Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas0%Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining0%Roustabouts, Oil and Gas0%Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas5%

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