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From the breakthroughs shaping our everyday lives to the bold visions that redefine our future, SXSW Sydney’s Tech & Innovation tracks, sponsored by Accenture, will take you on a deep dive into what’s next. Think cutting-edge conversations with trailblazers, live debates that spark new ways of thinking, and world-first ideas that will shift the way you see technology forever.
At SXSW Sydney, Tech & Innovation isn’t just about gadgets and code – it’s about how human imagination and technological advancement collide to solve problems, fuel creativity, and inspire progress. Whether you’re a startup founder, a curious creator, a seasoned engineer, or simply someone who loves thinking big, this is where you’ll find your people.
Here’s a look at the Tech & Innovation sessions lighting up SXSW Sydney:
Getting AI ready: Navigating the disruptive uncertainty of the AI revolution
Discover science-backed strategies, change models and psychological tools to navigate disruption, overcome fear and build AI-ready organisations in the face of the AI revolution.
Virtual Space Is Public Space, And Public Space Must Be Accessible
Explore how immersive digital spaces are emerging as modern public squares, and how inclusive, accessible design can ensure they empower and connect everyone.
Likes, Lies, and Loneliness: Life Online
Astrophysicist Dr. Matt Agnew and Shilpa Mohan (ProcurePro) unpack the rise of “anti-social media,” exploring how algorithm-driven echo chambers and outrage culture are reshaping human connection and trust.
Innovating endometriosis: thinking outside the box on treating disease
A panel of specialists takes on the endometriosis crisis—exploring bold new ideas for awareness, diagnosis, funding, education, treatment, and even whether this common yet incurable disease needs a total rebrand.
There’s a Scam for Everyone: Indigenous-Led Cybersecurity Solutions
Professors Monica Whitty and Chris Lawrence uncover how cyber scams target Indigenous communities and share lessons from Balai (Lookout/Beware), a Google-backed project building culturally grounded defences.
Legs for Days: Can your AI Models Stand Up to Legal Scrutiny?
Learn how to create custom AI content and tools for clients while navigating copyright, IP, privacy, and global legal compliance— scaling your business ethically and avoiding costly pitfalls.
Who Deserves To Live? Changing The Conversation Around Drugs
A provocative discussion on the double standards in drug use—why some users receive compassion and lifesaving services while others face stigma and criminalisation—featuring innovators challenging these life-and-death divides.
How the AI Revolution is Making Quantum Tech a Reality
Q-CTRL CEO Michael Biercuk explores how quantum technology and AI are converging to unlock unprecedented control over nature at its most fundamental level, reshaping the future of human innovation.
Redefining Art with Neuroscience
Discover how Quantitative Electroencephalography (QEEG) technology is transforming art by using brainwaves to create real-time sound and visuals, fostering inclusivity and shared creative experiences between people with and without disabilities.
The Data Dilemma: AI Between Innovation and Ethics
Explore the battle over web data access—balancing innovation, regulation, and ethics—and what it means for the future of AI, open information, and responsible data governance.
Mind the gap: Co-Designing Mental Health Resources Together
Dr Tasdik Hasan and Professor Anil Thapliyal explore how co-designed digital tools can make mental health care more inclusive, equitable, and accessible for all.
AI as Judge, Jury, and Executioner: The Ethics of Automated Sentencing
An interactive debate where a judge, ethicist, and legal expert explore AI’s role in justice—inviting the audience to vote on a 2035 embezzlement case and question who should have the final say: humans or machines.
Vibe Code to Viable Company: The 1 Day MVP
Josh Graham (Founder, Arts Innovation Lab) introduces “vibe coding”—a playful, beginner-friendly approach to turning ideas into apps using AI and no-code tools, from concept to live prototype in 90 minutes.
AI on Acid: Breaking the Machines to Break the Mould
Pip Bingemann and Kieran Browne (Springboards) reveal how they “broke” AI to reprogram it for unpredictability, sparking chaos, weirdness, and creativity instead of just perfect answers.
I Catch Killers - Live
Ex-detective Gary Jubelin and fraud survivor Tracy Hall expose the dark world of modern crime—AI scams, cyber syndicates, and financial fraud—live on I Catch Killers.
Building Brains Outside the Body: What Comes Next?
Researchers from the University of Sydney explore the future of lab-grown 3D brain models—how they could transform disease research, replace animal testing, and pave the way for AI-integrated neural computing.
Breath & Sound Journey with Ali Skiba
Join Ali Skiba for a transformative sound journey blending guided breathwork, soul-channeled vocals, and sacred instruments to restore balance and unlock self-healing.
How AI Agents are Changing the Creator Game
A product designer shares behind-the-scenes insights into building AI tools that generate content, broker deals, and influence creative decisions—offering a blueprint for empowering creators while protecting authenticity, ownership, and ethics.
Twirl, Tech and Taming Pain: The power of stories and movement
Dr Emma Watkins, Dr Joshua Pate, and the founders of Ready Set Dance team up to explore how stories, music, dance, and AI can inspire families to embrace movement and healthier lifestyles.
Deep Fake and AI
Explore the risks of deep fakes, how to detect them, and the vital role of AI champions in shifting mindsets—leaving with practical tools to boost digital safety.
Trenchcoat not required: The critical role of cyber intelligence in business decision-making
Katherine Mansted (CyberCX) shows how cyber intelligence can move organisations from reactive defence to proactive strategies that anticipate threats and guide smarter decisions.
Ah, Chaos, We Meet Again - Learning from the Messiest Projects
A sharp, unconventional look at leadership lessons from earthquake recovery, broken organisations, and even aerial dogfights—showing how to thrive when everything goes off the rails.
How AI is Changing Astronomy
Explore how AI and machine learning power breakthroughs from the James Webb Space Telescope, driving discoveries in astronomy with applications from climate action to archaeology.
AI Safety Winter: Going Backwards At What Cost?
A panel tackling the urgent risks of AI misuse—from deepfakes to synthetic child abuse material—exploring safeguards, regulation, and industry accountability to build a safer digital future.
Mobile Espionage: The Hidden Threats in Our Communications
Join Christine Gadsby, CISO at Blackberry, for a sharp look at the risks of free messaging apps—where leaked metadata and insecure networks fuel espionage—and why secure, sovereign communication is vital for trust and national security.
Small Populations, Massive Impact: How Islands are Unlocking Global Health Breakthroughs
How small island nations like Barbados are driving global health tech innovation—using unique infrastructure to advance wastewater epidemiology, cardiac diagnostics, and AI-driven healthcare.
Diamond-on-Silicon: A Clear Signal in Quantum
Prof Jim Rabeau (CEO, DeteQt) explores why quantum sensing, not computing, is the most commercially ready quantum tech, and how diamond-on-silicon is set to transform navigation, healthcare, mineral detection, and more.
AI as the Mindshift for a New Leadership Paradigm
Brian Solis shares how leaders can treat AI as a strategic asset, not just a tool, offering real-world examples and a roadmap for integrating AI into leadership, innovation, and organisational strategy.
AI Ethics: Australia's Opportunity on the World Stage
Dr Joshua Krook unpacks the human rights and legal risks of AI in Australia, from bias and privacy to oversight and accountability, while exploring global frameworks like the European AI Act and the Munich Convention.
"AI-round the World": Regulatory Trends in AI Around the World
Tech lawyer Ray Sun (“techie_ray”) maps global AI regulation trends, offering insights and predictions on where AI laws and policy are heading in the next decade.
Digital Sovereignty - Don't build your castle on someone else's land
A call to reclaim digital sovereignty by protecting your data, identity, and online presence, revealing hidden costs of platforms and teaching how to set boundaries and demand accountability.
Everything you need to know about AI in 2026
Niall Firth, Executive Editor at MIT Technology Review, breaks down the biggest AI technologies, trends, and ideas shaping 2026, helping you cut through the hype and make smarter decisions.
Peer Reviewed Gossip: Tech and Us
Science communicators Lee Constable, Dr Naomi Koh Belic, and Elfy Scott dish up “peer-reviewed gossip,” answering the tech questions you didn’t research—from beauty tech to AI’s impact on your sleep and social feeds.
The Quiet Way Smart Businesses Are Scaling With AI
Patricia Haueiss (AI consultant) shows how online retailers are using AI agents to cut busywork, boost performance, and free teams to focus on growth, brand, and product.
Meaning and the Machine
Step into an immersive guided art meditation that fuses AI soundscapes, digital art and mindfulness techniques to transform technology into a tool for deeper presence and connection.
Empathy Engines: XR for Social Impact and Mental Health
XR innovators demonstrate how immersive tech—VR, AR, and mixed reality—can foster empathy, support mental health, and transform storytelling into tools for social impact.
Bridging the health gap facing Indigenous Australians with wearable technology
A powerhouse panel of leaders share how to co-design culturally safe digital health solutions that build trust, respect culture, and improve outcomes for First Nations communities.
Quantum Ready: Future-Proofing Your Business in a Quantum World
A strategic workshop for executives to cut through the hype of quantum technology, evaluate industry risks and opportunities, and build an actionable adoption roadmap.
We Can't See the Future: Two Global Futurists Explore Unlimited Possibilities
Futurists Neil Redding and Jo Lepore explore an unconstrained technological future, questioning how rapid AI advances will reshape and challenge the human experience.
Brain Waves: Surfing the Science of Stroke, Dementia, Stress, and Sanity
A high-energy dive into cutting-edge brain research, from stroke recovery to dementia and stress, blending science, music, movement, and storytelling for fresh insights into mental wellness.
Humanoids: Household companion, hype or the future of work?
Robotics leader Andra Keay unpacks investment, safety, and social impact at the forefront of Silicon Valley’s humanoid revolution.
Bridging Wellness and Entertainment: The Healing Power of Music and Gaming
A panel of health, gaming, and music innovators reveal how VR, gamified wellness, and music-driven tools are transforming entertainment into accessible, everyday mental health support.
Hard Tech, Fast Money: The Quantum Startup Hustle
NSW is becoming a global quantum hub. Founders, engineers, and investors reveal how breakthroughs are moving from lab to market—and how Australia can lead the quantum economy.
Robotics Industry Meetup
Connect with researchers, startups, and students shaping robotics across manufacturing, space, agriculture, and beyond.
SydAR SXSW Edition
Sydney’s AR community takes the spotlight with live demos of smart glasses, social filters, and immersive tech, plus insights from the creators behind them.
Solving The AI Traffic Jam: Optimising Large-Scale Multi-Agent Pathfinding
Monash’s Daniel Harabor unpacks the AI puzzle of Multi-Agent Path Finding—how to coordinate robots, drones, and vehicles at scale without collisions or delays.
Hello Robot! Reimagining life with AI-Driven robots and agents
From humanoids to virtual agents, pioneers Grace Brown (Andromeda), Jacky Koh (Relevance AI), and Ian Sinclair (USC) explore how AI is reshaping robotics as co-workers, companions, and creators.
Don’t just watch the future happen – be part of it. Explore more of SXSW Sydney here and grab your pass today.
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