Leading international IT services and technology company HCLTech is gearing up for a big IMARC 2026.

The Indian-headquartered group, which generated fiscal 2026 sales of US$14.8 billion, is celebrating its 60th year in business. It works across engineering, AI, cloud, operational technology, cybersecurity and data, helping organisations run complex operations more effectively.

A spokesperson said the company’s presence at IMARC, including sponsoring a conference session on scaling AI in mining, was important at a time when “AI in mining is entering a new phase”.

“Most mining companies have already run AI projects in parts of their business,” the spokesperson said. “The harder task is making AI work across day-to-day operations, alongside the technology, engineering and operational processes already in place.”

A major area of investment for HCLTech is physical AI.

The company says it is applying AI in physical environments using computer vision, robotics, sensors and OT, in industries where AI works directly with equipment, infrastructure and operational processes. Intelligent inspection, robotics, predictive safety, autonomous operations, industrial logistics and connected infrastructure were all relevant to industries managing large physical assets, including mining.

Sonia Eland (pictured above), HCLTech executive vice president and Australia and New Zealand country manager, says as AI starts to inform operational decisions, mining companies are investing in better data, stronger technology foundations and more connected operational systems.

“Most mining companies have already started exploring AI, but the conversation is changing,” she says.

“It’s becoming less about individual pilots and more about how AI fits into day-to-day operations. That means having the right data, technology and governance in place before AI can be deployed at scale,” she says.

“Mining has always been an engineering-led industry and AI is becoming another part of that engineering toolkit. In our experience, organisations get the best results when they build the right foundations first, then scale AI across the business,” she says.

“Australia has a real opportunity to lead here.

“Few industries matter more to our economy than mining and few put AI to work in tougher conditions across remote sites, heavy equipment and safety-critical operations.

“With the Australian prime minister pushing for stronger AI oversight at home and on the global stage, mining is well placed to show what safe, governable AI looks like in practice, including clear lines on where AI can act autonomously and where people need to stay in control.

“If AI can be governed well on a mine site it can be governed well anywhere.”