Today’s Top 5 Things to Know in Australia

Atlassian, a leading tech company, is undergoing a major leadership change as co-chief executive Scott Farquhar steps down from his role. The responsibility now falls on co-founder Mike Cannon Brookes to steer the company forward, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence. Farquhar, in a statement to The Australian, expressed confidence in Atlassian’s ability to seize the opportunities presented in the AI era. Despite stepping down to focus on family and philanthropy, Farquhar will continue to serve as a special advisor to the company and remain on the board.

In other tech news, a legal battle looms for Twitter, known as X in this case, as the Australian eSafety Commissioner challenges the platform’s retention of posts that were ordered to be taken down. The court hearing on May 10 could result in hefty fines for X if it is found that geofencing does not equate to a takedown.

Additionally, the potential of Low Earth Orbit satellites to bridge the digital divide, especially for First Nations communities, is highlighted in a report by the Federal Government’s LEOSat Working Group. However, the high costs associated with this technology may pose a barrier to its widespread adoption.

Meanwhile, in the US, President Joe Biden has signed a bill banning TikTok and ordering its sale within 270 days. This decision, while not affecting Australia, has sparked support for the app from its Australian general manager. On the Microsoft front, the company’s OEM business is seeing growth, while hardware sales are declining. Xbox content and services, on the other hand, are on the rise, showcasing a mixed bag of results for the tech giant.