Listen to the article in podcast format on PM-AI Diaries channel on Spotify!
Ever since I published "The Death of the Stubborn PM" back in February, my inbox has been buzzing with one big question: “Okay, I get that AI is the future for product managers—but how do I actually use it?” It’s a fair ask. In that piece, I argued that PMs who resist AI are doomed to fade away, like dinosaurs refusing to evolve. As I wrote, “The stubborn PM who clings to old ways will die out, replaced by those who harness AI’s power while leaning into what makes us human.” Now, people want the playbook. So, let’s walk through it with a story—my own journey of figuring this out, backed by some sharp insights from MIT Sloan’s "When Humans and AI Work Best Together—and When Each Is Better Alone".
The Wake-Up Call
Picture me a few months back: a PM buried in work, juggling a dozen tasks, and feeling like there weren’t enough hours in the day. Writing user stories, sketching ideas, tracking project timelines—it was endless. I was good at it, sure, but I was also exhausted. Then I wrote that article, and it hit me: if I was preaching adaptation, I’d better practice it. The MIT Sloan study I dug into sealed the deal. It showed that AI crushes it at repetitive, data-driven tasks, while humans shine in areas like emotional smarts and big-picture thinking. My workflows had to change.
Let AI Drive, You Steer
I started small, testing AI on the stuff that was dragging me down. Here’s what I found:
- Brainstorming Ideas: Need inspiration for a feature? AI can suggest ideas based on industry trends. Want a competitive analysis? AI will summarize reports in seconds.
- Writing Product Briefs? AI’s Got This. I needed a batch of user stories for a new feature. Normally, that’s an afternoon of brain-draining work. Instead, I plugged the basics into an AI tool, and bam—clean, usable drafts in minutes. “As a user, I want X so I can Y.” I’d tweak them a bit, but the slog was gone. Same with content—like drafting release notes or brainstorming taglines—AI churned out solid starters. Even sketches and inspiration images? AI whipped those up too, faster than I could grab a pencil.
- User Insights & Research Summaries: AI can sift through thousands of user reviews, feedback tickets, and survey responses to surface key trends. Instead of spending hours reading everything, you get clear, actionable insights.
- Visualizing Concepts: AI tools like Midjourney or DALL·E can create mockups from text prompts. No more waiting on designers for rough concepts—you can generate and test ideas instantly.
- Project Management Made Easy. I used to live in spreadsheets, chasing deadlines and nudging team members. Now, I have got AI which can automate meeting summaries, segregate action items and next steps, flag potential risks and even suggest adjustments. Think of it as your virtual Chief of Staff.
Then there’s this sweet spot I stumbled into: working with AI. Take content creation—like writing a blog post (ahem, like this one). AI can spit out a rough draft fast, but it’s my voice, my tweaks, that make it sing. The MIT Sloan research calls this out: “Human-AI collaboration can be particularly powerful in creative tasks.” I’d let AI sketch the bones, then I’d flesh it out. Same with brainstorming—AI tossed out wild ideas, and I picked the gems. It’s not me vs. AI; it’s us, together, getting stuff done better.
Where I Stay in Charge (With a Little Help)
Not everything’s a job for AI, though. Some parts of being a PM are too human to outsource, and that’s where I leaned in:
- Emotional Quotient. Users were griping about a feature, and AI could analyze the feedback—count complaints, flag keywords. But figuring out what was really bugging them? That took me—reading between the lines, feeling their frustration, and knowing how to respond. AI gave me the data; I brought the heart.
- Decision Time. When it came to picking our next big move, AI handed me market trends and user stats. Cool, but deciding what aligned with our vision—or if it was even ethical? That was my call. No algorithm can wrestle with “should we?” like a human can.
- Heavy Context and Strategy. Market shifts were brewing, and AI spotted patterns in the noise. But tying that to our product’s story, our team’s goals, our users’ lives? That’s where my brain kicked in, weaving it all together into a plan.
The MIT Sloan study backs this up: “Humans excel in areas requiring emotional intelligence, creativity, and complex decision-making.” I didn’t ditch AI here—I used it as a wingman, feeding me insights to make my human skills sharper.
The New Me: A Smarter PM
Fast forward to today, my days look different now. AI handles the grind—user stories, content, project tracking, sketches—freeing me up to focus on users, strategy, and the big calls. I lean on AI for data and drafts, but I’m still the one steering the ship. I’m less frazzled, more creative, and honestly, having more fun. PM workflows needed to change, and this is how it’s working for me.
Your Turn: How to Use AI as a PM
So, here’s the straight-up advice, from my story to yours:
- Hand Off the Repetitive Stuff. Use AI for generating content, inspirations, images, sketches, user stories, and project management. It’s faster and doesn’t care about coffee breaks.
- Partner Up for Creativity. Team with AI on things like drafting or brainstorming—let it start, you finish. It’s a tag-team win.
- Lead with Your Human Edge. For emotional smarts, decisions, deep context, and strategy, take charge. Use AI to assist—data, insights, predictions—but you’re the boss.
The Bottom Line
Back in "The Death of the Stubborn PM", I said the future is for PMs who adapt. Now, I’ve lived it. AI isn’t here to replace us—it’s here to make us better. Let it sweat the small stuff, help with the creative, and back you up on the big stuff. That’s how you go from stubborn to smart—and trust me, it feels pretty darn good.