Scaling Product Management in the Age of AI: Efficiency, Storytelling, Automation… with a Human Touch!

As the sun rose over Paris this morning, Stripe and General Catalyst brought together over 50 technical founders, operators, and investors for an exclusive breakfast event that promised to explore the transformative impact of AI on software development.

The heart of our gathering was a fireside chat that felt more like a glimpse into a crystal ball. Quentin Clark , Managing Director at General Catalyst, took the helm as moderator, steering a fascinating conversation with Margaret J. , Head of Product at Mistral AI , and Ruhi Dang , Head of Product at Redpin . As we sipped our coffee and nibbled on croissants, these industry experts painted a vivid picture of how AI is reshaping the landscape of product management.

The air crackled with energy as our speakers dove into the meat of the discussion. They didn't just talk about change; they helped us feel it, understand it, and prepare for it. Here's what I learned:

• ?? The Evolution of the Product Manager — Gone are the days when PMs were chained to their desks, churning out endless specs. AI is ushering in a new era where storytelling and strategic thinking take center stage. As Ruhi Dang put it, "We need to move away from spec writing and more business first." It's a call to arms for PMs to step up and become the narrators of their company's future.
• ?? AI: The Ultimate Insight Generator — Imagine having a superpower that allows you to instantly make sense of mountains of data. That's what AI is bringing to the table. Margaret Jennings shared her excitement: "The ability to create quality insights very quickly is super exciting. I spend a lot of time inside Mistral uploading images of our post-hoc charts or our user research interviews or our customer support tickets and making sense of it." It's like having a brilliant analyst working at the speed of light, helping PMs make informed decisions faster than ever.
• ?? The Personalization Paradox — As we ventured into the realm of AI-driven personalization, the conversation took a thoughtful turn. Ruhi Dang voiced a concern that resonated with many: "How do you make sure that society doesn't head in a direction which is one person's agenda or which is a small community's agenda that is not right for the community as a whole?" It's a reminder that with great power comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to shaping user experiences.
• ?? Agents of Change — The discussion about AI agents felt like we were talking about helpful genies, ready to grant our product management wishes. Margaret Jennings shared her personal experience: "I have been building agents for a customer. But we make it easy for you to build them for yourself and for others." However, she tempered the excitement with a wise caution: "Automation is the goal. How we get there, I think, requires a human loop or an extra human loop and making sure that there's good design." It's a balanced approach that acknowledges both the potential and the pitfalls of AI automation
• ?? SaaS: The Next Frontier — As we peered into the future of SaaS, the room leaned in. One of our speakers dropped a bombshell: "Any SaaS product that is cloud plus a very uncomfortable UI is going to be taken care of by an agent." It was a moment that made us all pause and consider the implications. Are we witnessing the dawn of a new era in software, where AI doesn't just assist but potentially replaces entire product categories?

Quentin Clark brought it all together with a powerful insight: "We're shifting from a world of system of record... to systems of work. I don't want to buy a piece of software that's another tool for a human, it's a tool for a human to do things, versus, it's a thing that does things." It's a paradigm shift that could redefine how we think about software and its role in our lives.

As the event drew to a close, there was a palpable sense of excitement and possibility in the room. We had just glimpsed the future of product management, and it was clear that AI would play a starring role. But it was also evident that the human touch – our creativity, our ethical considerations, our ability to tell compelling stories – would remain irreplaceable.

This excitement is not just theoretical. Recent data from Stripe paints a striking picture of the AI industry's potential. AI startups are reaching revenue milestones at an unprecedented pace, outstripping previous generations of software companies. Some are hitting millions in sales within their first year, and the top performers are scaling to over $30 million in annualized revenue five times faster than their SaaS predecessors.

Despite the concerns about high infrastructure costs, these AI companies are successfully monetizing their innovations, riding the wave of global demand for generative AI. Take OpenAI 's ChatGPT, for instance, which became the fastest-growing consumer application in history. These figures aren't just impressive – they're a testament to the transformative power of AI and its ability to drive extraordinary business performance.

A heartfelt thank you to our brilliant speakers and our partners at General Catalyst for making this event possible, in particular Alexandre Momeni . As we continue to navigate the intersection of AI and product management, Stripe remains committed to supporting the innovators and trailblazers who are shaping this new frontier. If you're building and monetizing a venture scale business in the AI space, reach out to Lenny Rolland , Marc Andrianoff , Adrien Barta or me – we're here to help you scale quickly!