Mike Cannon-Brookes says slowing AI isn’t practical, arguing global momentum will push development forward.
Atlassian’s CEO says there’s no practical reason to hit the brakes on AI work, even as AI safety warnings grow louder. Mike Cannon-Brookes spoke during Atlassian Team Europe 2026, where he argued that slowing the trajectory isn’t a sensible option when countries are racing to lead in AI advances.
“It’s out of our hands anyway,” he said, suggesting a global pause isn’t something leaders can force. He framed AI as a moving target that businesses will need to navigate rather than pause, highlighting how competition among nations could keep pushing the field forward.
Beyond speed, Cannon-Brookes framed Atlassian’s stance as an enterprise-focused one. The company’s AI work is tightly tied to mission-critical workflows used by many Fortune 500 customers, not just flashy features for consumers. He pointed to the need for AI that supports real work without sacrificing trust.
Transparency is a recurring theme. He noted that Atlassian tools bake in AI in a way that makes its actions more visible to users, a design choice meant to foster trust as data handling and AI decisions become part of daily routines.
Still, he acknowledged challenges ahead. While AI promises greater efficiency, governance and responsible use will be central as more teams rely on AI in their everyday tasks.
The focus is on embedding AI into the software that teams already depend on, rather than chasing consumer trends. Atlassian’s message centers on keeping AI aligned with everyday business needs and reliability.
For workers in companies that use Atlassian products, expect AI features to become more deeply integrated, with clear signals about when AI is acting on data and why. The goal is to help teams work faster without creating confusion or risk.
As AI tools grow, admins will want stronger governance options, clearer data-use disclosures, and controls over how aggressive AI suggestions are in routine tasks.
No. Cannon-Brookes says there’s no logical reason to pause, even amid warnings about safety and risk.
To improve efficiency and reliability in critical business workflows by weaving AI into the software teams already rely on.
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