In this milestone 100th episode, we sit down with Daniel Brown, a Microsoft MVP based in Adelaide, to explore how AI is transforming the rugged world of opal mining. Daniel shares the fascinating story of how he developed Opal AI, a computer vision system that uses Microsoft’s Custom Vision and Azure services to identify precious opals in the harsh environment of Coober Pedy. By leveraging AI to detect opal, and safety hazards in real-time, Daniel demonstrates how edge computing can bring tangible efficiency and safety improvements to a traditionally manual industry.
The discussion delves into the practical challenges of deploying AI in the Australian outback, from using black light properties for opal detection to dealing with connectivity limitations that require robust offline edge processing. Daniel explains how he built and refined his models with over 5,000 tagged images, sharing practical advice for others looking to start their own AI projects using tools like customvision.ai with as few as 15 starter images.
Beyond the technical insights, the episode captures the intersection of ancient geology and cutting-edge technology, highlighting how AI can uncover treasures that are over 100 million years old while automating and securing mining operations.
We also celebrate our 100th episode, reflecting on nine years of community-driven conversations, learning, and evolving alongside the cloud ecosystem.
Daniel Brown is a visionary leader and a driving force in the world of Microsoft 365 and Copilot, based in the vibrant city of Adelaide, South Australia. With a passion for empowering individuals and organisations through technology, Daniel has been at the forefront of innovation, helping businesses harness the full potential of Microsoft's suite of productivity and AI tools for over 2 decades.
Daniel's expertise extends across a wide range of Microsoft technologies, with a particular laser type focus for Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft 365. With his deep understanding of this groundbreaking AI-driven platform, Daniel has helped numerous organizations revolutionize their approach to productivity and collaboration. You can connect with Daniel on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbrownau/)
Be sure to check out the user groups:
* Adelaide Microsoft Copilot User Group (https://www.linkedin.com/company/adelaidecopilotusergroup)
* Adelaide Microsoft 365 User Group (https://www.linkedin.com/company/am365ug)
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In this milestone 100th episode, we sit down with Daniel Brown, a Microsoft MVP based in Adelaide, to explore how AI is transforming the rugged world of opal mining. Daniel shares the fascinating story of how he developed Opal AI, a computer vision system that uses Microsoft’s Custom Vision and Azure services to identify precious opals in the harsh environment of Coober Pedy. By leveraging AI to detect opal, and safety hazards in real-time, Daniel demonstrates how edge computing can bring tangible efficiency and safety improvements to a traditionally manual industry.
The discussion delves into the practical challenges of deploying AI in the Australian outback, from using black light properties for opal detection to dealing with connectivity limitations that require robust offline edge processing. Daniel explains how he built and refined his models with over 5,000 tagged images, sharing practical advice for others looking to start their own AI projects using tools like customvision.ai with as few as 15 starter images.
Beyond the technical insights, the episode captures the intersection of ancient geology and cutting-edge technology, highlighting how AI can uncover treasures that are over 100 million years old while automating and securing mining operations.
We also celebrate our 100th episode, reflecting on nine years of community-driven conversations, learning, and evolving alongside the cloud ecosystem.
Daniel Brown is a visionary leader and a driving force in the world of Microsoft 365 and Copilot, based in the vibrant city of Adelaide, South Australia. With a passion for empowering individuals and organisations through technology, Daniel has been at the forefront of innovation, helping businesses harness the full potential of Microsoft's suite of productivity and AI tools for over 2 decades.
Daniel's expertise extends across a wide range of Microsoft technologies, with a particular laser type focus for Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft 365. With his deep understanding of this groundbreaking AI-driven platform, Daniel has helped numerous organizations revolutionize their approach to productivity and collaboration. You can connect with Daniel on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbrownau/)
Be sure to check out the user groups:
* Adelaide Microsoft Copilot User Group (https://www.linkedin.com/company/adelaidecopilotusergroup)
* Adelaide Microsoft 365 User Group (https://www.linkedin.com/company/am365ug)
No language encryption here... In this episode we have the honor of sitting down for a late-night discussion with our Dutch friends Koos, Jeroen and Maarten. We really enjoyed their interesting and unique perspective on the global threat landscape and how the ransomware-as-a-service economy continues to grow. We also talk about cyber warfare, the challenge of attack attribution and share some practical guidance on how keep your organization secure.
Koos Goossens is a Microsoft Security MVP with a focus on Microsoft Azure Security and other Microsoft Security products like Microsoft Sentinel. Koos is also an avid photographer, watch nerd, pinball enthusiast and BBQ grill master. You can connect with Koos on Twitter (https://x.com/KoosGoossens)
Jeroen Niesen is a Microsoft MVP and serves as the Lead MxDR at Wortell, where he plays a pivotal role in managing and enhancing the company's managed extended detection and response services. Jeroen is a speaker at various events around the world and also runs the AzureVlog channel on YouTube (http://youtube.com/@AzureVlog). You can connect with Jeroen on Twitter (https://x.com/jeroenniesen)
Maarten Goet is the CTO & Director Cybersecurity at Wortell and a long-standing expert in Microsoft technologies, achieving the Most Valuable Professional (MVP) and Microsoft Regional Director (RD) designation consistently for the last 18 years, a recognition for his efforts in knowledge-sharing and building Microsoft communities around the world. You can connect with Maarten on Twitter (https://x.com/maarten_goet)
The Cloud Architects Podcast
In this milestone 100th episode, we sit down with Daniel Brown, a Microsoft MVP based in Adelaide, to explore how AI is transforming the rugged world of opal mining. Daniel shares the fascinating story of how he developed Opal AI, a computer vision system that uses Microsoft’s Custom Vision and Azure services to identify precious opals in the harsh environment of Coober Pedy. By leveraging AI to detect opal, and safety hazards in real-time, Daniel demonstrates how edge computing can bring tangible efficiency and safety improvements to a traditionally manual industry.
The discussion delves into the practical challenges of deploying AI in the Australian outback, from using black light properties for opal detection to dealing with connectivity limitations that require robust offline edge processing. Daniel explains how he built and refined his models with over 5,000 tagged images, sharing practical advice for others looking to start their own AI projects using tools like customvision.ai with as few as 15 starter images.
Beyond the technical insights, the episode captures the intersection of ancient geology and cutting-edge technology, highlighting how AI can uncover treasures that are over 100 million years old while automating and securing mining operations.
We also celebrate our 100th episode, reflecting on nine years of community-driven conversations, learning, and evolving alongside the cloud ecosystem.
Daniel Brown is a visionary leader and a driving force in the world of Microsoft 365 and Copilot, based in the vibrant city of Adelaide, South Australia. With a passion for empowering individuals and organisations through technology, Daniel has been at the forefront of innovation, helping businesses harness the full potential of Microsoft's suite of productivity and AI tools for over 2 decades.
Daniel's expertise extends across a wide range of Microsoft technologies, with a particular laser type focus for Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft 365. With his deep understanding of this groundbreaking AI-driven platform, Daniel has helped numerous organizations revolutionize their approach to productivity and collaboration. You can connect with Daniel on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbrownau/)
Be sure to check out the user groups:
* Adelaide Microsoft Copilot User Group (https://www.linkedin.com/company/adelaidecopilotusergroup)
* Adelaide Microsoft 365 User Group (https://www.linkedin.com/company/am365ug)
