Skip to content

The SaaSpocalypse that wasn't, with Atlassian's CEO

September 28, 2026 · 1 h 16 min

Show notes

My guest today is Mike Cannon-Brookes, who is co-founder and CEO of Atlassian. Atlassian is one of those companies that every other company runs on — it makes important platform tools like Jira and Trello. This means Atlassian is also right in the middle of the way AI is changing how all these companies work. 

Or, if you buy the idea of the so-called SaaSpocalypse, AI might just build all of these tools for you, destroying this entire category of businesses. Obviously, Mike had a lot of thoughts pushing back on this narrative, so we spent time really digging in and talking through what AI is doing to enterprise software. 

Links: 

  • How Australia became the test bed for tech regulation | Decoder (2021)
  • Building a $45B company far from Silicon Valley’s ‘froth and bubbles’ | Semafor
  • Atlassian CEO Mike Cannon-Brookes on Atlassian and AI | Stratechery
  • How Atlassian shook off the 'SaaSpocalypse' for a big rally  | IBD
  • Atlassian acquires The Browser Company, maker of the Arc browser | The Verge
  • Atlassian Co-CEO resigns, leaving Cannon-Brookes as sole chief | Bloomberg
  • Atlassian cuts 1,600 jobs amid AI push | Forbes


Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane. 

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinde

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All episodes of Decoder with Nilay Patel

Settings

Display

Language

Decides which stations you see first on the home page.

History

Recently played stations and episodes and your latest searches are only stored in this browser.

Notifications

A short notice when a podcast you follow has a new episode. Turn off single podcasts with the bell on their page.

Account

Save favorites – in the app and on the website.

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Open search
Space
Play or pause
← →
In the player: back 15 s, forward 30 s (episodes) · in a row: next tile
↑ ↓
In a row: target within the tile
Home / End
In a row: first or last tile
Esc
Close window or menu
?
This overview
Now playing

Go to station page

Play next

    Add episodes with “Play next” – they play after the current episode.