
Below the Algorithm:
Mapping the Minerals Powering AI
This project explores the extractive foundations of artificial intelligence by mapping the mining sites that supply the critical raw materials–like lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and rare earth elements–needed to build AI infrastructure. While AI is often discussed in abstract or immaterial terms, its development is deeply rooted in physical processes that impact land, ecosystems, and both human and more-than-human communities–often in regions already facing environmental and political vulnerabilities. Through an open-access and evolving map, we aim to trace where these materials come from, who is affected, and how responsibility can be better understood and shared, ultimately contributing to identifying more accountable, inclusive, and ecologically grounded approaches to its development.
Project Diaries
Below you can find our Project Diaries, where we share the project’s behind the scenes: the hopes, dreams, obstacles, successes, and failures we encounter along the way.