A noisy quarter, indeed. As global headlines got heavier, AI accelerated.
It’s a strange time to be in the thick of it, but a good moment to check in on tech.
📍 WHERE WE’RE AT:
• Locally, hiring uneven with strong Jan, flat Feb, Mar rebound and demand holding into Apr.
• AI, data, security and infra continue to drive hiring activity.
• High living costs continue to limit discretionary spending.
• Fuel pressure reopens WFH debate.
• Shipping velocity is up in engineering teams using AI tooling.
• First wave of AI-native startups hitting real enterprise contracts.
• Atlassian doubles down on AI despite layoffs and acquisitions.
• Canva remains a growth outlier, continuing to hire and invest.
• “SaaSpocalypse” concerns weigh on software sector.
• “Software-AI-as-a-service” emerging as new model.
• AI-driven redundancies at Block, WiseTech Global and Commonwealth Bank.
• Airwallex regulatory probe derails IPO plans.
• Xero and Atlassian shares down ~50%, WiseTech sells off.
• Big Tech quietly rehiring after overcutting last year.
• Silicon Valley lenders’ $250M fund targets Aus scale-ups.
• Canva’s widening pay gap fuels equity debate.
• Non-AI startups face funding drought, quiet redundancies rise.
• FIRMUS nears $7B valuation amid AI data centre race.
• White-collar reshuffle fuels “Jobpocalypse” narrative.
• New role categories emerging (AI systems, MLOps, AI product).
• Anthropic and OpenAI expanding Aus footprint.
• Govt pushing for sovereign AI capability.
• Super funds and govt capital flow into AI infra and data centres.
🔭 WHAT’S AHEAD:
• Global AI investment tipped to double this year.
• Hiring to remain targeted but consistent in priority areas.
• Productivity gains and workforce impact still unfolding.
• Continued market split as SaiS defines next wave of winners.
• Sovereign AI push to lift sector capability and funding.
• Clearer org structures as companies commit to AI-led models.
