New Theory: Social License to Automate in Mining

As automation accelerates in global mining—from AI-driven drilling to autonomous haul trucks—researchers from the University of Queensland argue that traditional Social License to Operate (SLO) models are no longer sufficient. Their new framework, introduced in May 2025, proposes a “Social License to Automate” (SLA) to address emerging concerns over job displacement, loss of community agency, and exclusion from technological decision-making. Grounded in interviews from Australia and Chile, the study calls for “community techno-consent” and recommends proactive, transparent engagement on automation plans and co-designed reskilling initiatives.