Hey everyone,
I’ve been seeing a ton of chatter lately about AI’s impact on our roles, but much of it focuses on tactical efficiency—using AI to write user stories or summarize research. I think that’s missing the bigger picture. We’re in the middle of a fundamental competency shift, a ‘great skill reset’ for product managers.
For years, classic product sense was about deeply understanding user needs through traditional discovery methods and translating that into a compelling roadmap. That’s still critical, but it’s now table stakes. The new frontier is developing an ‘AI-first’ product sense. This means understanding how to leverage LLMs and machine learning not just as a feature, but as a core component for user research, hypothesis validation, and even strategic decision-making. It’s about knowing what kind of data models can unlock novel user experiences.
The PMs who thrive will be those who can move beyond simply managing a backlog and start shaping products where AI is the engine, not just a bolt-on. This requires a different kind of thinking and a new set of skills. We’re moving from orchestrators of execution to architects of intelligent systems.
So, my question for the community is this: What specific, tangible skills are you actively trying to build right now to evolve your product sense for the age of AI?