Hunting for opals in the Australian outback

In the remote part of central South Australia, in a town called Cooper Pedy, known as the opal capital of the world, is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) disrupting the way opals are being found.

MVP Daniel Brown is deep in the Australian outback and is the guy with the tech. Equipped with his Surface Pro, a camera phone and his AI software built on Microsoft Azure, called OpalAl, Daniel shares his pioneering journey of opal mining in the harsh Australian climate.

Combatting scorching heat, with temperatures reaching up to 45°C (113°F), relentless flies, dust that finds its way into everything, and limited access to internet and electricity, this isn’t your ordinary day in the office.

Daniel uncovers exactly what he did to revolutionise the opal industry, and put this technology to the test, using Microsoft Azure OpenAI and Computer Vision.

Watch Daniel’s presentation with the Microsoft Reactor and continue reading below to learn more, in this fascinating interview with Daniel Brown.  

 Why is OpalAI game-changing for the opal industry?

For over a century, Opal mining has been based on manual searching, intuition, and luck. Miners rely on experience to identify potential opal-bearing ground, but the process is slow, physically demanding, and filled with uncertainty. OpalAI changes that.

By leveraging Microsoft Azure AI’s Custom Vision, OpalAI provides real-time visual analysis, helping miners detect opal that might otherwise be missed. It enhances efficiency, reduces human error, and allows for faster, data-driven decision-making in the field. Unlike traditional methods, OpalAI doesn’t get tired, overlook key details, or second-guess itself. It works alongside miners as an extra set of eyes, scanning trenches, spoil piles, and rock surfaces to highlight potential opal deposits.

OpalAI introduces computer vision and machine learning into the process, offering a systematic, data-driven approach to opal detection by:

• Speeding up inspections, reducing the stop/start for operators, allowing them to covering more ground in less time.
• Reducing human error by detecting opal that might otherwise be overlooked.
• Enhancing safety by reducing the need for manual sorting in hazardous conditions, such as the deep holes or trenches.

By proving that AI can consistently assist in finding opal, OpalAI is changing the conversation around technology in Coober Pedy. While many traditional miners are sceptical, the results speak for themselves, saving time and covering more ground is the Opal mines way to enhancing revenue and profits.

MVP Daniel Brown in the Australian outback

What Azure tools have you used in this technology?

OpalAI is built using Microsoft Azure AI, specifically:

• Azure Custom Vision – The core machine learning model that identifies opal and other objects from thousands of trained images.
• C# / Windows Presentation Framework (WPF) front end application
• Microsoft Learn – Knowledge is power, and while its not a technology directly, the use of Microsoft Learn has allowed me not gain new skills and insights, but been a great platform to learn all things AI.

Azure’s flexibility has allowed OpalAI to evolve rapidly, making it possible to train, deploy, and refine AI models in extreme field conditions – allowing it to adapt in even the most extreme conditions in the Australian outback.

Opal detection on OpalAI

What are the highlights of your adventures in Coober Pedy?

Working in Coober Pedy, South Australia, is unlike any other experience. The conditions are brutal—45°C (113°F) heat, relentless flies, and dust that gets into everything—but the rewards can be incredible.

Some of my biggest highlights include:

• Meeting the wonderful people of Coober Pedy, over 45 different nationalities, it is one of the most diverse places on earth.
• OpalAI's first real-world success – Detecting opal in a trench, proving AI-assisted mining works – twice – first in 2023 and then again in 2024.
• Filming with Outback Opal Hunters – Having OpalAI featured on Discovery Channel, showing it in action, capturing the pivotal moments.
• Exploring Allen’s Rise – Allens Rise the home of Black Opal in Coober Pedy - Testing OpalAI on Coober Pedy’s black opal fields, which few miners actively search.
• The 4 AM blacklight hunts – Walking trenches under UV light, seeing the opal glow before the sun rises.
• Surviving the elements – Working in 45°C (113°F) heat, covered in dust, with flies everywhere, pushing technology to its limits.
• Friday night BBQ at the Greek Club, enjoying a meal and beer.

Every trip is a mix of Ups & Down’s, discovery, frustration, and breakthrough moments - which makes it worth coming back each year.

What challenges did you face with this innovation?

Building OpalAI came with a unique set of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was skepticism from traditional miners. Many viewed AI as “hocus pocus”, dismissing it as a gimmick. Convincing them that OpalAI isn’t replacing miners, but assisting them – or that it is even possible has been an ongoing challenge.

Another issue was data collection. Opal doesn’t follow geological rules like other minerals, so getting high-quality images of opal embedded in rock was difficult. Many miners don’t document their finds in raw form, so building a comprehensive dataset required persistence and collaboration.

The environmental conditions also pushed the limits of technology. Dust coated everything, intense sunlight made screen visibility difficult, and heat caused equipment to overheat. Running AI models in a remote desert with limited internet also meant OpalAI initially struggled with cloud dependency, which led to the development of offline AI processing.

Each challenge has pushed OpalAI to adapt and evolve, making it a more robust tool for future mining projects, even in the Australian Outback.

What excites you about the future of technology?

For me, the most exciting thing about technology is seeing AI move from theory into real-world applications - especially in industries that haven’t changed in decades. AI is no longer just a theoretical tool - it’s now being applied in harsh environments, making mining, exploration, and safety smarter, faster, and more efficient.

For OpalAI specifically, I’m excited about:

• Autonomous mining tools – Integrating AI with machinery for automated opal detection.
• Beyond opal – Training AI to detect gold, silver, copper, other gemstones, and even structural cracks.
• AI-powered authenticity checks – Determining if an opal is natural or synthetic, and tracing its origin.

We’re entering an era where AI isn’t just assisting humans - it’s working alongside them in ways we never thought possible ever before – our way of thinking is changing!

As a community leader, how can someone connect and learn from you?

I run multiple Microsoft user groups and frequently present on AI, Copilot, SharePoint, and digital transformation. If someone wants to connect or learn more, they can:

• Join the Adelaide Microsoft Copilot User Group for AI, Copilot, and workplace automation insights.
• Join the Adelaide Microsoft 365 User Group, where I cover information management, compliance, and business transformation.
• Follow my work on LinkedIn, where I share insights into AI-driven mining and automation
• Catch my live session from Coober Pedy in October 2025 at the IT Pro User Group, where I’ll be presenting directly from the field on OpalAI, Azure AI and cognitive Services, and provide an update to the journey so far.
• I’m always open to conversations about AI, Copilot, Technology, mining, transformation and innovation—so feel free to reach out and connect!