As Aluminum Becomes Critical, Startups Deploy AI to Unlock Supply

Geopolitical tensions have created an aluminum supply crunch, making recycling economically viable for the first time. Startups like Sortera and Amp are deploying AI-powered sorting systems that dramatically improve recovery rates—moving from the current 20% toward 90%+ accuracy—positioning themselves as major sources of domestically produced aluminum. This convergence of commodity scarcity and AI efficiency represents a new model for circular manufacturing.