The Product Manager Remit In The AI Era

Traditionally, product managers have been the adhesive binding together various elements - stakeholders, teams, roadmaps, backlogs, and overarching strategy. Now, AI tools and systems are becoming an integral part of this mix, the remit of the product manager is poised to evolve. It's akin to adding a new, complex instrument to an orchestra, necessitating us to acquire new skills and adapt our strategies.

In this landscape, product managers may find themselves transitioning from being solely process-oriented to becoming system managers. We're learning to understand AI capabilities, interpret data, and collaborate effectively with data scientists. It's a steep learning curve, but one that opens up a world of opportunities for creating smarter, more efficient, and personalised products.

Drawing from my experience as a Risk and Decisioning PM, where I worked closely with Data Scientists and Risk and Fraud leads to deliver and integrate models that scored and made decisions for our users, I can foresee that this will not just be limited to Risk but extend to different areas of the product.

Moreover, we're likely to find ourselves in the role of ethical gatekeepers. AI, for all its potential, brings with it a host of ethical considerations. Bias in AI algorithms, data privacy, and the potential misuse of AI are all issues that will fall within our purview. We're not just managing products; we're ensuring that they're developed and used responsibly.

Consider a scenario where an AI tool in your product may inadvertently favour certain user demographics. It will be our responsibility as product managers to identify these biases and work towards a fair and balanced solution. We'll need to set ethical guidelines, ask the right questions, and understand the potential risks.

Then there's the user experience (UX). A product's success isn't just about its features; it's about how users interact with those features. As product managers, we're uniquely positioned to ensure that AI enhances rather than detracts from the UX. We understand both the technology and the user, and it's our job to ensure that the two are in harmony.

For instance, if you're implementing a new AI tool, it's crucial to ensure that it adds value to the user. It's not enough for the tool to be technically impressive; it needs to be user-friendly and effective. This means involving users in the development process, testing AI features with real users, and iterating based on feedback.

AI is reshaping the landscape of product management. We're not just orchestrating processes; we're learning to play new instruments, balancing technology, ethics, and user experience. It's a challenging yet exciting time to be a product manager, and the opportunities are endless.