The Future for Product Managers is AI
10 reasons why PMs resist using AI and what leaders can do to help them adapt.
AI will redefine what it means to be a product manager.
AI is set to revolutionize the role of a product manager.
With AI, PMs will be able to:
Automate routine tasks, like writing requirements, setting OKRs, creating personas, drafting GTM plans, building product roadmaps, etc.
Spend more time on strategic initiatives, innovating, and talking to users.
Use AI to analyze data, uncover insights, and make better data-driven decisions.
Leverage AI’s creativity to build better products that users love
Yet many PMs are not ready to embrace it.
Based on my conversation with 200+ PMs. Here’s what holding them back:
Lack of Familiarity with AI: Generative AI can be complex and intimidating. PMs don’t understand how it works, what it is capable of, and how to interact with it effectively.
Unrealistic Expectations: PMs often have high hopes for AI. For example, they expect a perfect user story 100% tailored to their product. When AI does not deliver. They get disappointed. Or worse, give up.
Data Privacy Concerns: Many PMs avoid AI due to concerns about security and data privacy.
Skill Gap: Many want to use AI to improve productivity, but simply don’t know how to use it or even where to start.
Human-AI Balance: AI can only get you 60% - 80% of the way. The rest is up to the PM. But finding this right balance can be challenging at first.
Job Security Worries: Some PMs are hesitant about embracing AI fully. They are concerned that AI will automate traditional PM roles. So they don’t even try.
Integration Challenges: AI will change how we build products. Redesigning these processes, workflows, and tools is cumbersome.
Questioning AI Reliability: Given AI’s ability to hallucinate. Many PMs doubt the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated insights.
Uncertainty About AI Benefits: There is a lot of talk about productivity gains. But without tangible evidence, business case, or ROI, many PMs are not ready to take the plunge.
Rapid Pace of AI Evolution: AI is changing rapidly. Simply try to keep up presents a challenge for PMs.
Here are 5 ways Product Leaders can help their PMs get over the initial hump.
Try this:
Give Them Access: Despite all the benefits, many organizations still ban the use of AI. And I get why. But if you are to create an AI-enabled workforce, especially with your PMs. Then they need access.
Show Them What Is Possible: PMs just don’t know what is possible. So show them. Bring in partners, consultants, and coaches to open up their minds.
Invest In Training: If you are serious about improving your PM team’s productivity. Invest in training. Make sure the training is role-specific, instead of generic prompt engineering.
Drive Adoption: Training unfortunately is not enough. To drive true adoptions, PMs will need ongoing support, executive sponsorship, access to coaching, etc. As the team’s skills mature, structural changes will also be required.
Measure Impact: What gets measured gets done. The same applies here as well. Measure productivity before and after AI, collect the anecdotes, and celebrate the wins.
By strategically navigating the initial PM hurdles, product leaders can unlock efficiency, productivity, and innovation.
Happy Building!!
Whenever you are ready, here are 2 ways that I can help you:
#1. AI for Product Managers Bootcamp (public): An intense 3-week bootcamp, where PMs learn how to leverage AI to save time, deliver top-notch work, and accelerate velocity.
#2. AI for Product Teams Bootcamp (private): Private version of the above bootcamp. 100% customized to your organization. Includes hackathons, coaching, mentoring, and executive playbacks.