This is what AI can't replace about Product Managers 🤖

Hey geek 😎! It’s Aneesha :)

Lately, I have been reading (and watching) a lot of people talking about AI or artificial intelligence.

And I cannot help but say, the info has been amazing!

But what I do not see often, is people talking about what AI “cannot” do. Why isn’t anyone talking about it much?

I presume there could be 2 reasons - either they don’t know about its limitations and boundaries, or, they don’t think it’s important to know 🤯!

I am telling you it’s WAY TOO IMPORTANT!

And I have some strong reasons to tell you why.

1. Helps you set realistic expectations and solutions. AI is powerful, yes. But it’s not magic, my friend.

2. AI can inherit biases from the data it's trained on. PMs can help avoid this, but only if they know about it!

3. AI excels at data analysis and automation, but it struggles with tasks that require creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking.

4. Product managers who understand what AI can't do are better equipped to identify problems that are a good fit for AI solutions and those that require a different approach.

How do I know this? I have been attending a few boot camps and workshops designed for aspiring and new PMs lately.

They usually have an interesting activity at the end, which mostly entails participants ideating a new feature or solution.

And since AI is hot 🔥, most participants are utilizing it in their answers. However, I found so many answers that overestimated AI’s abilities!

That’s exactly why I am writing this post today!

So, What AI Doesn't or Cannot Do (for PMs)? 🤖

1. AI Cannot Dream (a Product’s Vision or Future)

Unlike humans, AI does not yet have the power to envision a whole product vision for you. It is something left for us human PMs to do.

It cannot develop strategic thinking, or create a product roadmap for you because that requires you to be a visionary, or have futuristic thinking, which AI hasn’t been able to excel at, yet 👀.

Product managers bring creativity and human empathy to define a product vision that resonates with the target audience.

AI today, is great at analyzing existing data to identify patterns and trends. However, it struggles to think outside the box and conceptualize entirely new product ideas.

It can't envision future needs or disrupt existing markets with novel solutions.

2. Cannot Detect Ambiguity

At some point, AI struggles to understand human behavior and/or the context of a behavior.

Human behavior is often irrational and unpredictable. AI struggles to account for sudden trends, impulsive decisions, or the influence of social factors.

AI’s tech can also analyze data points like clicks and purchases, but it can't understand the emotional drivers behind those actions.

PMs use their emotional intelligence to interpret nuances and make informed decisions.

Here’s a simple example.

Say you're at a restaurant with a friend who's a notoriously picky eater. You use an AI-powered recommendation app that analyzes your past orders and suggests a healthy salad.

However, your friend might be craving something completely different, like a comforting mac and cheese, despite previously ordering salads. AI can't account for sudden cravings or emotional influences on food choices 🤦‍♀️.

3. Inability to Handle the Unknown/Unexpected

A lot of abilities of AI depend heavily on available data sets. The ability to predict certain figures or behaviors is also happening with the help of certain data.

AI learns from the data it's trained on, but this learning process can be slow and static.

It struggles to continuously learn and adapt to new information or situations that fall outside its training data.

AI learns only from the information it's given, but it can't easily learn new things on its own. If something unexpected happens, it might not know how to react 🤷‍♀️.

It can't anticipate entirely new user needs or unforeseen market opportunities.

It relies on identifying patterns in existing data, which limits its ability to innovate and creatively solve problems.

How You Should Use This Knowledge as a PM? 🧠

You now know the reasons as to why you know what AI doesn’t do, and all the things that it doesn’t 💡.

Let me explain how you can put this knowledge to use going further.

1. Prioritize Human-Centric Design 👨

Focus on user emotions and contexts under which your users would perform desired and undesired actions.

You also want to use this high-level principle of human-centered design when designing your solutions.

Remember, AI struggles with the "why" behind user behavior. 😉

Product managers can conduct user interviews and gather qualitative data to understand user frustrations, desires, and emotional needs.

This allows for a more empathetic and user-centered product design.

Don't neglect the "intangibles". AI relies heavily on data points.

We as PMs, need to consider the "intangibles" like user experience (UX), visual design, and emotional connection.

2. Embrace Flexibility and Iteration ♾️

Be ready to adapt to change!

AI struggles with unforeseen situations. You as a PM, should continuously gather user feedback, iterate on product features, and be ready to pivot based on market trends.

A/B testing and user research become even more crucial.

Think outside the box. Why? Because AI excels at analyzing existing patterns. Product managers can use their creativity to explore entirely new ideas and solutions.

Brainstorming sessions, competitor analysis, and staying updated on emerging trends are valuable tools.

3. Effective Communication and Collaboration 📣

AI cannot do the talking for you 👀!

It lacks the communication skills and emotional intelligence needed to persuade stakeholders and build consensus around a product vision.

You need to clearly articulate the product vision to stakeholders, rally teams around a shared purpose, and address any concerns.

Strong communication skills and the ability to build consensus are 🔑, my friend. And given the level of advancements in AI today, it seems this job is still left to us humans.

Product managers can leverage AI as a powerful tool without giving up the human-centric aspects of product development.

In short, understanding the limitations of AI empowers product managers to:

• Build better products: By focusing on the right problems and leveraging human strengths.

• Make informed decisions: By setting realistic expectations and avoiding bias.

• Create a positive user experience: By fostering trust and transparency.

That’s all for today !

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Cya!
Aneesha ❤️