3 Intriguing Aussie Tech Trends to Watch in 2024

When it comes to the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies, Australia often leads the way in terms of research and innovation, as pioneers in various fields make important breakthroughs that can genuinely reshape our world.

Now that we live in a digital world, the pace of development and adoption for new technologies is faster in Australia than anywhere else. We only need to think about entertainment tech participation, such as video games or online gambling, which are higher per head of population Down Under than any other country on the planet. 

Mindful of that, let’s take a look at three key technology trends, each of which will be worth monitoring carefully through 2024 and beyond.

AI Understanding

Research and development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around for decades, but 2023 was the year that generative AU went viral around the world, hitting the headlines on a daily basis thanks to platforms like ChatGPT and Bard. They’re also perhaps why the internet is now flooded with AI generated content, prompting fears that human writers might be replaced entirely. Thankfully, for the writer of this article, that hasn’t happened yet.

Still, the idea that AI might replace the need for humans created quite the buzz, accompanied by plenty of fearmongering. This included AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton departing from Google, then proclaiming the technology, which he helped to create, could be a genuine threat to humanity. Essentially, his core concern was about having sufficient control over AI, alongside having enough understanding about the pros and cons of its usage.

But now the genie is already out of the bottle, so to speak, others regard AI as being a huge opportunity, including the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML), based at the University of Adelaide. They have become one of the leading advocates for greater understanding, keen to ensure that Australia becomes one of the major thought leaders for AU from 2024 onwards.

Blockchain Gaming

As the next iteration of the World Wide Web takes hold, Web3 technology unites the concepts of decentralization and token-based economics, all based on blockchain technologies. While NFT-based Web3 gaming has been around for several years, 2024 is projected to be the year it really begins to boom, particularly with Australian developers leading the way. Several key companies, such as Immutable, already have taken great strides in this nascent sector.

The core idea of blockchain or Web3 gaming is democratization, whereby players have true ownership of in-game assets, even helping to shape the design and management of games themselves. Already well established in Asia, there are several Australian companies at the forefront of making Web3 gaming mainstream among Western audiences, essentially bridging the cultural gap between Eastern and Western markets.

Meanwhile, 2023 was a challenging year for the iGaming sector, as increasingly stringent legislature and regulation arrived. Nevertheless, millions of Aussies will continue play online pokies for real money in 2024, given they remain the most popular online casino games. The most reputable gambling sites already deploy blockchain technology, vastly improving safety and security, and this will increase from next year onwards, enhancing the user experience.

Quantum Computing

The theory behind quantum computing has been around since the late 1960s, but the practical application has taken considerable time to evolve. Today, quantum computing is already being used within academic research and industry, although it is currently very expensive and only few exist, such as those of IBM Quantum System One. However, the technology still remains far from perfect.

Right now, there’s a global race to build the first error-corrected quantum computer, and Australia has put itself at the forefront of the international competition. In 2023 the Federal Government produced a National Quantum Strategy, boosting research and development investment with billions of AUD in funding. Via this important backing and support, the aim is to position Australia at the very forefront of quantum tech innovation.

There are currently five major quantum computer companies in Australia, all of which aim to promote the practical deployment of this strategy. This includes collaborations with educational organizations and institutes throughout the country, alongside an increased 2024 focus on establishing quantum infrastructure and increased access to materials.

Exciting Times Ahead

Given that Australia has already established itself as a leading technology hub, the country will continue to express itself in various fields of enterprise and research, paving the way for tech advances of the future that could arrive as early as the year to come. That’s certainly an exciting prospect, meaning that 2024 could be a breakthrough year that will make Aussies proud of the innovations emerging from their country.