AI changing non-ferrous metals industry

China's non-ferrous metals industry is accelerating its digital transformation as artificial intelligence is increasingly applied in complex industrial scenarios, signaling a shift toward smarter, more efficient and higher-quality development across the sector, officials and experts said.

The remarks were made at a conference unveiling Kun'an 2.0, an AI large model developed specifically for the non-ferrous metals industry, as well as a series of achievements in digital transformation in Beijing recently.

Building on Kun'an 1.0, which was released last year as the industry's first dedicated AI large model, Kun'an 2.0 has expanded its coverage to more than 100 application scenarios. Of these, 52 scenarios with strong potential for wider industry adoption were officially released, alongside eight high-quality industry data sets, marking tangible progress in applying AI across the sector.

"The launch of Kun'an 2.0 is not simply an iteration of the previous version, but a significant leap in capabilities and ecosystem expansion," said Duan Xiangdong, chairman of Aluminum Corp of China, also known as Chinalco.

As one of the world's largest aluminum producers, Chinalco has aligned its efforts with national strategic needs and focused on key industry challenges, embedding artificial intelligence technologies across its entire non-ferrous metals industrial chain.

From an industry perspective, Ge Honglin, president of China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association, said the deep integration of digital and intelligent technologies with the non-ferrous metals industry is not only essential for high-quality development and transformation, but also a core pathway for traditional industries to foster new quality productive forces and build a modern industrial system.

Hu Wujie, deputy director of the Planning and Development Bureau of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, said that large-scale activities for embodied intelligence industry communities will be organized in the future, gradually expanding from pilot projects to broader participation by diverse market entities.