Africa stands at the nexus of geopolitical competition for critical materials that power the energy transition, defense, and digital economies. Combined, Africa holds about one-third of global critical mineral reserves. But it remains burdened by colonial-era geological surveys and infrastructure and exports its bounty largely unprocessed into Chinese-dominated supply chains. Middle powers like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have emerged as significant players in mining investment on the continent, while the United States and its allies have sharpened their interest in African mineral markets. This report highlights artificial intelligence (AI) and big data innovations and their applications for Africa’s mining sector. It argues that AI and digitalization offer African states, the United States, and allied partners a strategic opportunity to move beyond legacy constraints and one-sided partnerships in the mining sector. AI and data applications in Africa can help expedite discovery, reduce drilling time and modernize operations, while de-risking investment and supporting policy modeling. AI and data partnerships can potentially advance supply chain transparency, strengthen local capacity across digital and applied sciences, and yield benefits for African communities. As the United States is a leader in global AI, the US government should leverage its expertise in new technologies, mapping, and big data to develop partnerships with African countries that advance US security objectives while providing long-term dividends and economic development for African nations. These efforts should be pursued as a single, integrated “smart mining” agenda rather than as siloed AI and mining investment tracks, so that these investments in African markets support one another. This report also addresses uneven AI adoption and persisting challenges for African economies in future mining, including supply chain vulnerability to external shocks, infrastructure and governance gaps, and labor and skill needs. A successful AI and digitalization transition for African mining will involve concerted efforts to encourage targeted capital in exploration and infrastructure development, US–Africa partnerships with cross-disciplinary staffing and expertise, and the integration of local African expertise across mining ventures.