Steel Mills

USS Partners with Google Cloud on Gen AI Project

Written by Ethan Bernard

August 10, 2023

U.S. Steel has announced a collaboration with Google Cloud to build applications using Google Cloud’s generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) technology.

The Pittsburgh-based steelmaker said in a statement on Thursday it will use the gen AI to “drive efficiencies and improve employee experiences in the largest iron ore mine in North America.”

The initial phase of the launch will begin in September. It will impact more than 60 haul trucks at the company’s Minnesota Ore Operations facilities: Minntac and Keetac.

The first gen AI-driven application the steelmaker is launching is called MineMind™, the company said. The application aims to simplify equipment maintenance by “providing optimal solutions for mechanical problems, saving time and money, and ultimately improving productivity.”

“We’ve meaningfully accelerated digitization at U.S. Steel through our work with Google Cloud,” David Burritt, president and CEO of U.S. Steel, said in the statement. “Faster repair times, less down time, and more satisfying work for our techs are only some of the many benefits we expect with generative AI.”

The company said that, when fully operational, MineMind™ will allow a technician to reduce the amount of time to complete a work order by an estimated 20%. For example, U.S. Steel noted, the application can assist maintenance crews by guiding them through truck repairs, ordering parts, and distilling complex information.

“The two companies will seek to continue to expand the relationship to solve for high-impact areas across the U.S. Steel value chain,” the company said.

Ethan Bernard

Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA. in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

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