Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes Discusses AI Strategy and Co-Founder Scott Farquhar’s Departure
The Australian Financial Review
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Details
- Date Published
- 12 Apr 2026
- Priority Score
- 1
- Australian
- Yes
- Created
- 12 Apr 2026, 02:00 am
Description
In an interview, the billionaire says the software giant will emerge stronger from the sharemarket sell-off and that he misses running it with Scott Farquhar.
Summary
Mike Cannon-Brookes characterizes artificial intelligence as the most significant technological advancement of his lifetime, positioning it as a core driver for Atlassian's long-term commercial recovery despite recent market volatility. The article highlights how large-scale enterprise software providers are pivoting to integrate AI capabilities into existing workflows to maintain market dominance. While the discussion touches on the disruptive potential of AI, it focuses primarily on business continuity and economic competitiveness rather than technical safety, catastrophic risk profiles, or alignment governance. This context is relevant to the Australian AI landscape as it features the perspectives of the nation's most prominent technology executive during a period of rapid industry transformation.
Body
TechnologySoftwarePrint articlePaul SmithTechnology editorUpdated Apr 12, 2026 – 10.07am, first published at 10.00amAtlassian chief executive Mike Cannon-Brookes says artificial intelligence is the most exciting technology of his lifetime, and that it will help his company emerge stronger from a chastening period that has seen almost $40 billion wiped from its value in just the past four months.In an interview, the billionaire said investors would eventually understand that the same principles which led software giants such as Microsoft to become the biggest companies in the world have not changed because of AI, while also opening up about the challenges of running the company solo since the departure of co-founder Scott Farquhar.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleFollow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreSoftwareAtlassianMike Cannon-BrookesScott FarquharAIDisruptionFetching latest articles