Dear ChatGPT, how can Product Managers best work alongside AI in 2023?

As 2022 draws to a close, one of the standout innovations that made us sit up and listen this year was ChatGPT.

In case you missed the memo, ChatGPT is the new conversational chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022. Adoption has been impressive.

ChatGPT allows you to ask a question in natural language and provides a reply in a conversational style while remembering any of your previous questions in the dialogue.

The model is not perfect. According to the OpenAI team responsible for building ChatGPT “It sometimes writes plausible-sounding but incorrect or nonsensical answers.” It also refuses requests deemed inappropriate.

Despite this, there’s little doubt that over the coming 12 months, the accuracy of ChatGPT will improve significantly and is set to continue getting better at an eyewatering rate.?

ChatGPT vs Google Search

AI powered chatbots and AI powered image generation (generative art) are already transforming the way many of us work.

Google recently issued a “code-red” alert to its staff to re-focus efforts on AI, likely in recognition of the existential threat posed by ChatGPT to their core competency – Search.

ChatGPT looks like it could adopt a Freemium / Metered revenue model, charging on a per search basis beyond its initial free allowance.

The tool is looking like an increasingly credible candidate to do to Google what Google did to other search players in the early 2000s.

Replacing Google as the go-to search engine, ChatGPT could destroy Google’s ad-based revenue model. That’s the reason for the code-red and dealing with this critical item has likely pushed AI to the top of the backlog in Mountain View and across Google worldwide.

AI, Product Management and the Future of Work

An area I like to keep my eye on is the Future of Work and how AI tools like ChatGPT will impact the way knowledge workers bring value to an organisation.

Taking Product Management as an example, I reached out to ChatGPT to get its view on how AI will impact the role of Product Manager over the coming 5 years.

Here’s what I got back:

It is difficult to predict with certainty how the role of product manager will evolve over the next 5 years, as it will depend on a variety of factors such as the pace of technological advancement, the adoption of AI tools in different industries, and the specific responsibilities and skill sets required for the role.?

However, it is likely that as AI tools continue to improve, they will play an increasingly important role in the product development process, potentially taking on some of the tasks that product managers currently handle.

For example, AI tools such as chatbots and virtual assistants can be used to gather customer feedback and insights, track market trends, and analyze data to inform product decisions. This could potentially free up product managers to focus on more high-level strategy and innovation, rather than getting bogged down in the details of data analysis and customer research.

On the other hand, it is important to consider that AI tools are not yet able to fully replace the human element of product management. Product managers bring a unique perspective and expertise to the table, and they are often responsible for leading cross-functional teams and collaborating with stakeholders to bring new products to market.

While AI tools may be able to assist with certain tasks, they are unlikely to fully replace the need for human judgment, creativity, and leadership in product development.

Overall, it is likely that the role of product manager will continue to evolve and change as AI tools become more prevalent, but it is unlikely to disappear completely. Instead, product managers will likely need to adapt and acquire new skills to stay relevant in the face of technological change.

A slightly wordy but nevertheless impressive and balanced collection of insights I thought. And ChatGPT only took a few seconds to pen this original content from scratch.

Tasks that would have previously taken a human hours, can now be done in seconds. Whether it’s writing a post like the one you’re reading here, creating a block of optimized JavaScript code or producing a high definition cityscape ink pen drawing Stephen Wiltshire would be proud of, AI tools will become more prevalent and will fundamentally change the way we work at an accelerating pace.?

Action Steps

Long term, no one can say with certainty what impact AI will have on the Future of Work. I’m hoping that the influential leaders in the AI space do their best to keep the greater good to humanity and the interests of the commons in mind. Let’s see.

In the short term (the next 12 months), I think Product Managers on the front foot will be wise to dive in deep and get comfortable using the different AI tools that are coming to market.

Maybe start with small personal experiments like using ChatGPT to help you create talking points and sections for your next blog post. Or perhaps use a generative art tool to provide you with some new options for your profile picture.

Whatever you add to your toolbelt, freeing yourself up to focus on the things AI still finds difficult will be time well spent and could also give you the space to participate in the innovation that influences how AI plays out for us all.

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