AI hype fades, Canva's star turn and other key takeaways from SXSW Sydney 2024
Excitement around AI is getting more reasonable, quantum computing is advancing well, and Canva has Big Tech ambitions.
After five long days, SXSW Sydney is effectively done and dusted. This year's convention was ran more smoothly than 2023's maiden voyage, and with luck is the second step towards the South By's Australian cousin getting its own distinct identity.
While all conventions have their weak spots, and a full week of even the most energetic panels requires tremendous stamina to get through, SXSW Sydney 2024 was not short of highlights and takeaways — or gigs and afterparties, if you're into that kind of stuff.
With Australia's innovation sector very much converging around the convention, here were Capital Brief's main takeaways.
AI hype has cooled — a little
The second SXSW Sydney proved to be an effective marker of sentiment around artificial intelligence.
