Andrew Ng explains why AI product management is the future.

Writing software, especially prototypes, is getting cheaper every day. Every day we see leaders talking about reducing the cost of software development with the help of ai agents. As construction becomes cheaper, demand will increase for people who can decide what to build.

This is where ai product managers come in.

They are the bridge between the technical experts who create the software and the end users who actually use it. They are the ones who ask the big questions: What problem are we solving? Who are we solving it for? And how can ai improve it?

Andrew Ng—paints a vivid picture of why ai product management will become a career path with a future brighter than the headlights of a Tesla.

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See what ai leaders say about software development.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-ai-product-management-nbsp”>What is ai product management?

ai product management is the discipline of developing and managing ai-based software products. It's like traditional product management, but with a twist: Instead of focusing solely on features, user needs, and business goals, ai product managers must also understand the unique challenges and opportunities that ai brings. at the table.

ai Product Managers are responsible for:

• Identify problems that ai can solve.
• Define product vision and strategy for ai-powered solutions.
• Collaborate with engineers, data scientists, and designers to create ai models and integrate them into products.
• Ensure ai works as intended, is ethical, and delivers real value to users.

It's a role that requires equal parts creativity, technical understanding and strategic thinking. And as ai continues to evolve, so will the role of the ai ​​product manager.

Software Development: A Tale of Two Plugins

Ng begins with a simple but powerful analogy: cars and gasoline. When cars became cheaper, demand for gasoline skyrocketed. Because? Because the two are complements: they go together like peanut butter and jelly, or Netflix and procrastination.

The same logic applies to software development. As ai makes coding faster and cheaper, demand will increase for people who can decide what to build. These decision makers are, of course, product managers (PMs). They are the ones who decide what features to create, for whom, and why. And with ai in the mix, its role is about to get a lot more exciting (and complicated).

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-skills-required-to-become-an-ai-product-manager”>Skills Needed to Become an ai Product Manager

Ng predicts that as coding becomes more efficient, the makeup of software teams will change. Currently, the Engineer/PM ratio is around 6:1, but this could change. Because? Because if engineers can build faster, someone needs to keep up with the ideas and strategy. That someone is the prime minister.

Ng describes the unique skills ai product managers need:

1. Technical competence in ai: PMs need to understand what is technically feasible. No, they don't need to code like a wizard, but they should know their neural networks from their decision trees.
2. Iterative development: ai projects are complicated. They require constant adjustments, testing, and course corrections. Prime ministers must accept chaos.
3. Data competition: ai thrives on data. PMs must understand how to collect, use, and generate them effectively.
4. Ability to manage ambiguity: ai performance is often unpredictable. PMs must be comfortable with uncertainty and have strategies to deal with it.
5. Continuous learning: ai evolves faster than a TikTok trend. PMs must stay up to date on the latest technologies and how they fit into users' lives.
6. Responsible ai Implementation: PMs must ensure that ai is used ethically, with barriers in place to prevent bad outcomes.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-a-shortage-of-ai-savvy-pms”>Shortage of ai expert PMs

While engineers are quick to use ai, PMs are lagging behind. Ng notes that most companies struggle to find people who can bridge the gap between product development and ai expertise. This shortage will only grow as ai becomes more widespread.

But fear not! Ng sees this as an opportunity. Whether you're an engineer looking to expand your skillset or a PM ready to dive into the world of ai, the future is full of possibilities.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-become-an-ai-product-manager-in-2025″>Why become an ai Product Manager in 2025?

Ng's message is clear: demand for ai product managers is about to explode. Whether you're an experienced PM, a curious engineer, or someone just starting out in their career, now is the time to level up. The variety of valuable things we can build with ai is almost limitless. From chatbots that don't make you want to throw your phone out the window to healthcare solutions powered by artificial intelligence, the possibilities are endless.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-to-become-an-ai-product-manager-in-2025″>How to become an ai product manager in 2025?

Here are some free Analytics Vidhya courses that can help you level up:

You can find all our free courses here.

Final note

The future of ai product management hasn't just arrived: it's already here. The question is not if you will be a part of it, but how.

ai is transforming the way we build software, and with it, demand for people who can decide what to build is skyrocketing. This is your moment. The tools are here. Knowledge is accessible. The only thing left for you is to take the first step.

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