Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most polarising topics in science and industry. While some see it as the future, others remain unconvinced, questioning whether a technology built on algorithms can really contribute to something as complex as understanding the Earth's subsurface.

For geophysicists, however, the conversation is shifting. Rather than replacing scientists, AI is emerging as a powerful new tool that is helping geophysicists make sense of vast amounts of data, uncover previously overlooked patterns and tackle some of society’s biggest challenges, from discovering the critical minerals needed for the energy transition to locating groundwater resources and improving environmental management.

It is this transition, from scepticism to opportunity, that will be explored at the South African Geophysical Association (SAGA) Conference 2026, taking place in Cape Town from 13 to 15 October.

Dr Stephanie Enslin, senior geophysics lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand and chairperson of the Conference, says that like many industries, geophysics is asking what role AI should play in the future of our profession. "There is understandable scepticism, but there is also growing evidence that AI can help us solve problems faster and more effectively when used responsibly.

“SAGA 2026 creates an important opportunity to bring together researchers, industry and technology specialists to explore both the opportunities and the challenges."

For Dr Emmanuel Sakala, senior geophysicist at De Beers Discovery, and a speaker at the Conference, the debate is no longer about whether AI belongs in geophysics, but about how to use it effectively. "Many people still think of AI in terms of chatbots and image generators. But in geophysics, AI has a very different role. It helps us identify subtle patterns and relationships within enormous datasets that would be extremely difficult and time-consuming for humans to detect on their own. AI helps us identify better exploration targets by integrating multiple sources of information."

Modern exploration produces vast quantities of information from geophysical surveys, geological mapping, drilling, geochemistry, remote sensing and decades of archived technical reports. AI is now being used to integrate these diverse datasets, identify anomalies that may indicate mineral deposits and extract valuable insights from historical exploration records that may otherwise remain hidden.

The impact extends far beyond making geophysicists work faster. As the world searches for the critical minerals needed to support renewable energy technologies and the global energy transition, AI is helping geophysicists design more targeted exploration programmes that require less unnecessary drilling, lowering costs while reducing environmental impact.

There is also a vital connection between the rapid growth of AI and the resources geophysicists are working to locate and better understand.

“AI comes with its own resource demands,” says Dr Enslin. “The data centres that power it require enormous amounts of electricity and water, as well as the minerals needed for the infrastructure behind them. There is an interesting circularity here: as AI drives greater demand for these resources, it is also giving geophysicists increasingly sophisticated tools to help find and manage them. That makes the relationship between AI and geophysics particularly relevant as we consider how both will evolve in the years ahead.”

The same technology is also opening new possibilities in groundwater mapping, environmental monitoring, engineering investigations and carbon storage verification, demonstrating that the value of geophysics extends well beyond mining.

Looking ahead, Dr Sakala believes the greatest opportunity lies in combining AI with established scientific principles.

One of the most promising developments is Physics-Informed AI, where machine learning models are guided not only by data but also by the laws of physics, producing results that are more reliable and scientifically meaningful.

Despite its growing capabilities, Dr Sakala says AI remains exactly what it should be: another tool in the geophysicist's toolbox. "AI cannot compensate for poor-quality data, nor can it fully understand the complexity of geological systems or explain why certain patterns exist. Human judgement, field experience and geological reasoning remain essential."

Instead, he believes the future belongs to geophysicists who know how to combine technology with scientific expertise. "The future of AI in geophysics is not about replacing geophysicists. It is about developing intelligent systems that automate routine tasks while enabling scientists to focus on understanding complex geological problems, evaluating uncertainty and making informed decisions. AI will find patterns, physics will constrain solutions, and geoscientists will provide the geological understanding."

Dr Enslin says that makes this year's conference especially relevant. "Every major technological shift brings uncertainty before it brings acceptance. Our responsibility as a profession is to understand these technologies, challenge them where necessary and embrace them where they can genuinely improve the way we work. SAGA 2026 is where those conversations happen."

As AI continues to evolve, the question facing geophysics is no longer whether AI has a place in the profession, but how scientists can harness its potential while preserving the expertise, critical thinking and scientific rigour that have always defined the discipline.