Smarter, Faster, More Connected: Atlassian’s October AI & Rovo Updates

October was a big month for Atlassian. From smarter automation to more collaborative AI, the latest updates show how quickly the platform is evolving toward an intelligent, interconnected ecosystem.

Here’s a quick look at the standout features and why they matter.

Automation Rule Management API

Admins and developers can now manage automation rules as code through the new REST API. This opens up automation governance at scale and streamlines CI/CD integration.

Why it matters:

• Enables consistent, compliant automation across projects.
• Reduces manual admin time by automating rule deployment.

Use case: A financial services team can automatically roll out a compliant onboarding rule to every new Jira project - no human setup required.

Keep in mind: This feature is developer-oriented, so it requires API familiarity to get started.

Human Approvals with “Delay Until”

Workflows can now pause until a specific condition or human approval is met.

Why it matters: It blends automation with human oversight - ideal for compliance, financial reviews, or creative sign-offs.

Use case: A marketing team’s automation pauses until both the Marketing Director and Finance Manager approve a campaign request, then proceeds automatically.

Tip: Clear ownership and alerts are key to preventing bottlenecks.

Dynamic Lookup Tables

Atlassian has added live data lookups to automation rules. Teams can now reference external data sources directly within automations.

Why it matters: This enables smarter, context-aware automations. Think skill-based task routing or capacity-driven assignments.

Use case: An IT support team automatically assigns high-priority issues to the on-call engineer with the most capacity based on real-time data.

Watch out for: Dependencies on external data availability and accuracy.

Simplified Smart Values

The Smart Values panel has been redesigned for easier navigation. Values are now grouped logically by component, making complex rules much easier to build.

Why it matters: It’s faster and less error-prone, especially for new automation builders.

Use case: A project manager can now find the right fields for Slack messages without hunting through documentation.

Rovo Search for Jira

This is a major shift from keyword search to intent-based discovery. Rovo Search brings context-aware results across Jira, Confluence, Google Drive, and other connected tools.

Why it matters: It helps teams find what they need faster, even across multiple platforms.

Use case: A developer searching “Q4 security audit” instantly sees the relevant Jira epic, Confluence checklist, and linked Google Drive reports.

Consider: Accuracy depends on well-configured connectors and clean data.

Co-Author Agents in Studio

Teams can now collaboratively build and refine Rovo Agents. Multiple users can work on the same agent simultaneously.

Why it matters: It accelerates AI development and ensures quality through peer review.

Use case: A product owner, developer, and QA lead build a “Definition of Ready” agent together, combining their expertise for better automation.

Pro tip: Use naming conventions to avoid version confusion when collaborating.

The New Rovo Chat Experience

Rovo Chat has a refreshed interface with flexible layouts, including full-screen, sidebar, and floating modes.

Why it matters: It adapts to how you work, from quick queries to deep project support.

Use case: While drafting a retrospective in Confluence, you can ask Rovo Chat to summarise sprint bottlenecks without leaving the page.

Rovo Chat in Bitbucket Cloud (Public Beta)

Rovo Chat is now embedded directly in Bitbucket Cloud for all users.

Why it matters: Developers get real-time AI assistance right where they code.

Use case: A new developer can highlight a function and ask Rovo to explain it or generate a unit test suggestion.

Note: It’s still in beta, so expect ongoing refinements.

Rovo Button in Confluence

Users can now launch Rovo Chat from a floating button in the bottom-right corner of Confluence.

Why it matters: It’s a faster, more flexible way to engage Rovo without losing focus on your page.

Use case: During a meeting, a participant can quickly open Rovo Chat to recap a previous decision, then return to note-taking instantly.

Image to Work Item

Turn a photo of a whiteboard or sticky-note wall into Jira work items in seconds.

Why it matters: It connects brainstorming directly to action.

Use case: After a design sprint, a team uploads a photo of their whiteboard, and Rovo generates draft Jira issues ready for review and prioritisation.

Reminder: These are starting points and human review remains essential.

Final Thoughts

Atlassian’s October updates show how AI is becoming deeply woven into teamwork. From smarter automation and richer search to agent collaboration and visual capture, Rovo continues to evolve into a true teammate.

With this new power, though, comes responsibility. Teams that invest in clean data, clear ownership, and thoughtful governance will be the ones who truly benefit from these capabilities.

These updates are not just about speed , they’re about helping teams work intelligently, confidently, and together. Please reach out if you want to discuss these updates further - we’d love to chat.