Techbest – Top Tech Reviews In Australia
The best in Australian gadgets and technology
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We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission which is paid directly to our Australia-based writers, editors, and support staff. Thank you for your support!
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) recently wrapped up a hefty $96 million revamping of its online platforms. Even with this expenditure, the bureau still relies on its legacy website, reg.bom.gov.au, which will continue to operate indefinitely, particularly for emergency services and industry clients dependent on its essential data.
Minister for Environment Murray Watt voiced concerns over BoM’s transition strategy. What was intended to be a unification and replacement of the current platforms has turned into a mere addition to the legacy site. The project’s financial plan surged from an initial $31 million pact with Accenture to $96.5 million, intensifying political scrutiny.
A spokesperson for BoM indicated that the new site is designed to elevate the user experience for the general audience. Nevertheless, it does not supplant the fundamental functions of the legacy platform, which remains vital for supplying specialized data access to emergency services.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s expensive website enhancement has not removed the necessity for its legacy platform. While the new site intends to serve general users, the legacy site remains critical for essential data access. The venture has encountered budget overflow and political backlash, underscoring the complexities of digital evolution in public services.
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In a calculated effort to enhance its AI potential, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has appointed Ranil Boteju as its first Chief AI Officer. Set to commence in early 2026, Boteju brings extensive expertise from his role at Lloyds Banking Group, where he held the title of Group Chief Data and Analytics Officer.
CBA CEO Matt Comyn highlighted the bank’s commitment to incorporating top-tier talent and technology in order to construct what he refers to as “tomorrow’s bank today.” Boteju’s appointment serves as a strong indicator of CBA’s strategy to utilize AI for delivering meaningful value to both clients and employees.
The bank’s emphasis on responsible and customer-centric AI is apparent in this prominent hiring decision. CBA is strategically positioning itself to enhance its AI capabilities in ways that align with customer expectations and ethical principles.
In the lead-up to Boteju’s start date, Richard Nesbitt, who is the General Manager of AI and Advanced Analytics at CBA, will fulfill the role of acting Chief AI Officer. This phase of transition is vital for sustaining the progress of CBA’s AI projects.
CBA has actively been embedding AI within its operations. Earlier this year, the bank revealed plans to implement AI in software delivery and coordination. Furthermore, CBA has initiated a multi-year partnership with OpenAI to explore progressive generative AI solutions, underscoring its commitment to leading AI innovations.
The news of Boteju’s appointment coincides with other notable leadership changes at CBA, including the upcoming exit of Group CIO Gavin Munroe. These developments represent a transformative period for CBA as it continues to refine its technological and leadership directions.
Ranil Boteju’s appointment as CBA’s first Chief AI Officer signals a significant milestone in the bank’s AI approach. By prioritizing responsible AI and customer engagement, CBA aims to strengthen its technological foundation, supported by strategic partnerships and leadership changes.
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The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus represents a revolutionary mobile workstation that delivers data centre-level AI inferencing directly to users. Built with custom dual-NPU architecture and equipped with 64GB of dedicated AI memory, it handles sophisticated AI models up to 120 billion parameters. This configuration provides exceptional FP16 inferencing performance, effectively transforming the laptop into a formidable edge server.
This innovative architecture transitions AI processing from cloud reliance to on-device autonomy. The Qualcomm AI 100 PC Inference Card enables instant inferencing without cloud-induced delays, which is essential for Australian users facing inconsistent internet connectivity. Such autonomy also brings down costs by replacing ongoing cloud charges with a one-time hardware purchase.
For industries like healthcare and finance, the Pro Max 16 Plus guarantees data sovereignty by carrying out processing on-device. This methodology adheres to Australia’s rigorous data protection regulations, ensuring the confidentiality of sensitive information without the need for external network resources.
The Pro Max 16 Plus caters to both Windows and Linux, fitting a variety of enterprise toolchains. This capability facilitates smooth integration into current IT frameworks, making it an adaptable option for corporate settings.
The Pro Max 16 Plus is tailored for sectors with distinct AI requirements. Medical professionals can analyze images locally, while finance and legal fields gain from secure, on-device AI functionalities. Researchers can test AI models at the location, fostering advancements in robotics and autonomous technology.
The Qualcomm AI 100 PC Inference Card stands out with its 32 AI cores and 64GB of memory, surpassing integrated NPUs and conventional GPUs for AI tasks. This discrete NPU delivers efficient, consistent performance, essential for ongoing AI demands.
The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus is offered with Intel Core Ultra processors alongside options for NVIDIA RTX Pro Blackwell graphics or the Qualcomm AI 100 PC Inference Card. Prices begin at US$3,329 for the 16″ variant and US$3,789 for the 18″ variant. For further information, please visit Dell’s Website.
The Dell Pro Max 16 Plus establishes a new benchmark for mobile workstations, delivering exceptional AI processing capabilities and autonomy from cloud services. Its strong security, adaptability, and integration in enterprise settings make it an essential asset for professionals spanning various fields.
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Westpac Banking Group has initiated an ambitious agenda to decrease unnecessary technology expenditures as a component of its ongoing Unite system rationalization initiative. The initiative seeks to optimize operations and eliminate platform redundancies that have arisen from historical acquisitions.
Westpac intends to dedicate approximately $2 billion each year from FY2025 to FY2028 for the Unite initiative. CEO Anthony Miller, who assumed leadership last December, is spearheading efforts to ensure that expenditures on technology generate meaningful returns.
During a recent parliamentary session, Miller underscored the necessity of thoroughly examining technology purchases to guarantee shareholder value. He has urged employees to assess whether external technology services and consulting are actually indispensable.
Despite the emphasis on cost efficiency, Miller confirmed that compliance standards would remain secure. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has recently lifted enforceable requirements against Westpac, enabling the bank to concentrate on its transformation initiatives.
As part of its digital evolution, Westpac is incorporating AI technologies to boost operational efficiency. The bank has already made Microsoft’s Copilot AI tool accessible to 15,000 employees, demonstrating its commitment to adopting cutting-edge technology solutions.
Westpac is actively minimizing inefficient technology expenditures through its Unite system rationalization initiative while upholding compliance standards and welcoming AI innovations. CEO Anthony Miller’s leadership is pivotal in these endeavors, assuring that technology investments yield the highest returns.
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This week, Google unveiled a groundbreaking generative AI solution with the introduction of Google Nano Banana Pro, part of the Gemini 3 Pro Image model collection. This advancement tackles persistent challenges associated with AI image creators, specifically the difficulty of accurately displaying readable text in images.
Nano Banana Pro is designed to produce images featuring exact text, representing a notable improvement over earlier models that frequently generated illogical outcomes. This function is particularly advantageous for crafting signs or product labels that necessitate text accuracy and for translating text among various languages.
With support for up to 4K resolution, Nano Banana Pro outpaces current models that peak at around 1024×1024 resolution. This progress unlocks fresh possibilities for print media and professional design, producing high-definition images ideal for expansive displays.
Since its debut, users have leveraged the model’s functionalities for imaginative projects such as generating 3D house plans, incorporating engineering details in images, and producing infographics. The model enables ‘few-shot prompting’ utilizing up to 14 reference images, facilitating the creation of brand-specific assets.
Offered on Google’s Gemini platform, Nano Banana Pro presents various access levels, providing limited free generation options for non-Pro users. The model integrates smoothly with Google Ads for marketers and the Antigravity IDE for developers, allowing for creative and localized campaign oversight.
Google boosts clarity with SynthID watermarking, letting users confirm if an image was created by AI. For professional settings, the visible watermark is substituted with an invisible digital marker, ensuring professional assets maintain their integrity.
In Australia, the premium AI packages for Nano Banana Pro are priced around A$32.99 monthly, with enterprise rates depending on user seats. The elevated computational expenses of these sophisticated models warrant the tiered pricing approach.
Google Nano Banana Pro is establishing new benchmarks in AI image generation by resolving text accuracy challenges and endorsing 4K resolution. Its integration with various Google services renders it a valuable tool for developers, marketers, and creative experts. The introduction of SynthID watermarking guarantees clarity and security, while its pricing reflects the significant computational requirements of the tech.
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IBM and Cisco Systems have unveiled an ambitious plan to connect quantum computers over long distances, with a target to validate this concept by the close of 2030. If realized, this initiative could form the cornerstone of a quantum internet, a groundbreaking technology with the potential to transform sectors including physics, chemistry, and cybersecurity by tackling issues that would take classical computing ages to resolve.
Despite the lofty vision, the journey ahead is fraught with difficulties. Leaders from both companies have acknowledged the lack of essential technologies, necessitating collaboration with academic institutions and national labs for development. This venture will require the invention of new technologies, such as a microwave-optical transducer for converting microwave qubits to optical signals suitable for transmission through fibre-optic cables.
IBM aims to have a functioning quantum computer by 2029, highlighting its commitment to tackle the challenges posed by the error-prone characteristics of quantum machines. Concurrently, Cisco has launched a lab focused on understanding quantum machine connectivity, vital to achieving the overarching goal of the project.
IBM and Cisco are viewing this undertaking as a unified system rather than as two independent projects. By releasing open-source software, they intend to ensure seamless integration of all system components. According to Vijoy Pandey, Cisco’s senior vice president of the Outshift innovation incubator, this collaborative effort enhances the chances of success and guarantees that both entities are aligned in their objectives.
The partnership between IBM and Cisco to connect quantum computers is an ambitious yet crucial stride toward realizing a future where quantum computing and networking are standard. By addressing the technological gaps and cultivating collaborations with academic and research organizations, this initiative holds the potential to transform the technological landscape by the decade’s end.
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Groq, a frontrunner in AI inference, has revealed its first AI infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region by choosing Equinix’s data centre located in Sydney, Australia. This initiative signifies a crucial milestone in Groq’s global data centre network expansion, following its successful establishments in the U.S. and Europe.
This new facility aims to equip organisations and public sectors in Australia with swifter, more affordable, and scalable AI inference solutions, poised to elevate AI capabilities nationwide.
Through the strategic alliance with Equinix, Groq plans to develop one of the largest high-speed AI inference infrastructure hubs in Australia. The 4.5MW facility in Sydney will provide compute power that is up to 5x faster and more cost-efficient than traditional GPUs and hyperscaler clouds.
Using Equinix Fabric, a software-based interconnection service, organisations within the Asia-Pacific region will gain secure, low-latency, high-speed connectivity, allowing for seamless access to GroqCloud for production AI tasks while maintaining control, compliance, and data sovereignty.
Groq is transforming AI inference through its cutting-edge Language Processing Unit (LPU) technology. Unlike NVIDIA’s GPUs, which cater to training AI models, Groq’s LPUs are tailored for inference, resulting in exceptionally swift AI responses.
This transition enables Groq to offer AI solutions that provide immediate responses, improving user experiences and increasing engagement potential.
With Groq’s hardware situated in Sydney, the network latency typically linked to offshore data centres is eradicated. This local establishment represents a significant advantage for developers in Australia, facilitating the development of real-time AI applications that were previously restricted by latency issues.
AI-driven customer service agents, real-time language translation, and developer tools offering instant code suggestions can now thrive in the Australian landscape.
Housing high-performance AI hardware within Australia guarantees data sovereignty, an essential consideration for sectors handling sensitive information, such as finance, healthcare, and defence. These industries can now utilise advanced AI tools without the fear of compromising data security.
Groq’s establishment of a new AI data centre in Sydney indicates a notable progression in AI infrastructure for Australia. By collaborating with Equinix, Groq is delivering a quicker, cost-effective, and sovereign AI solution that assists local industries and fosters the creation of real-time applications.
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Suntory Oceania’s new Swanbank Beverage Facility in Queensland boasts an annual production capability of 20 million drink cases, with future scalability considered. Its automation capabilities permit the production and storage of two complete pallets every minute, establishing it as one of the leading facilities in the area. The Digital & IT team coordinated 34 connections among SAP, Extended Warehouse Management (EWM), and operational technology systems. Moreover, automated shuttles link docks directly to production lines, removing manual delays and facilitating real-time visibility from order to shipping.
Suntory Oceania’s IT revamp has advanced not only its backend operations but also the way the company interacts with customers and partners. A new CRM platform acts as the definitive source across sales, support, and customer self-service, integrating smoothly with a telephony and sales-force automation system for its 200-member licensed sales team. The online store has been enhanced to feature an expanded alcoholic selection and real-time license verification, allowing for dynamic pricing and near-real-time integration with manufacturing and logistics.
The IT and operational overhaul positions Suntory Oceania as a driving force for the next wave of advanced manufacturing in Australia and New Zealand. The Swanbank facility’s carbon-neutral attributes align with Suntory’s global “Growing for Good” philosophy, bolstered by digital infrastructures that uphold sustainability targets through data clarity and real-time management. Suntory Oceania’s transformation signifies a redefined identity by merging technology, sustainability, and brand under a unified regional strategy.
A brief video showcasing the new facility can be accessed here.
Suntory Oceania’s $30 million IT revamp has effectively powered its $400 million carbon-neutral beverage hub in Queensland. By integrating state-of-the-art SAP solutions and establishing an agile, data-informed platform, the company has set new standards in manufacturing excellence, customer interaction, and sustainability. This transformation not only positions Suntory Oceania as a frontrunner in the beverage industry but also highlights the significance of digital transformation for resilience and growth within Australia’s manufacturing sector.
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In a tactical effort to improve graduate opportunities, Defence plans to recruit 10 students from a Microsoft-backed program, intending to strengthen its digital workforce. These students, currently studying at Holberton School, will enter the Defence Digital Group in entry-level positions, contributing to Australia’s IT capabilities.
The partnership with Holberton School serves as a pilot initiative for Defence Digital Group to investigate new entry-level placement channels. Once they finish their studies, the chosen candidates will participate in a 12-month placement, contingent upon fulfilling employment and security criteria. Successful candidates might have the chance to obtain ongoing positions.
Microsoft’s participation encompasses specialized training on Azure, aligning with the Department of Defence’s Digital Strategy and Roadmap 2024. This strategy focuses on the integration of global platforms and cloud technologies that underpin Defence’s digital framework.
In July, a co-investment program between Microsoft and Defence was announced, aiding Defence’s shift towards cloud adoption and digital enhancement. This collaboration seeks to utilize Microsoft’s expertise to improve Defence’s technological capabilities.
Defence’s effort to recruit software engineering talent from a Microsoft-supported initiative signifies a crucial advancement towards strengthening Australia’s digital capabilities. By integrating targeted Azure training and aligning with the Defence Digital Strategy, this initiative represents a substantial investment in the future of Defence’s IT workforce.
