How AI will evolve the PM role

Written By David Harris

I’ve been reflecting on how the PM role will evolve in light of AI: Product conviction anchored in taste and intuition, plus the ability to align and inspire teams, will be the key PM value adds.

This can be broken into three questions.

  • What value AI will unlock for PMs

    • Instant information retrieval & synthesis - Instantaneous access to insights (market data, UXR, product data) and ability to glean meaning from it

    • Process automation - Automate overhead / project management / execution tracking

    • Accelerated product development - Go from idea -> PRD -> design/prototype -> productionized build super fast

    • Enhanced communication - Structure and communicate ideas more effectively & efficiently

  • What AI won’t be able to do

    • Judgement & taste - AI lacks the ability to make bold / opinionated decisions or resolve ambiguity based on conviction / intuition. AI is too sycophantic and focused on making linear, logical conclusions (vs. unexpected, high beta bets)

    • Human alignment - AI can’t build trust / align stakeholders, navigate org complexity, drive consensus  

  • What this means for PMs. As the bottleneck shifts from development capacity to alignment and decision making, the skills to cultivate will be:

    • Product conviction - Ownership of outcomes / strong product sense more important than ever, powered by human-centric empathy

    • AI-enabled role fluidity - Wearing multiple hats (PD, DS, eng); develop working knowledge of AI workflows to do that well

    • Org navigation - Navigating org complexity, and motivating / leading teams amidst change 

David Harris
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