How to Become an AI Product Manager - AI PM Community Session #42

Summary

The video script discusses the high demand for AI talent and the importance of AI product management (AIPM) skills. Vian, founder of PM exercises, introduces their AIPM learning program designed to equip product managers with AI expertise. The program includes ongoing education, community access, and practical tools. Guest speaker Kai, from Uber's AI platform team, shares insights on AI's practical applications and the significance of product management in translating AI visions into reality. The presentation highlights the need for a deep understanding of AI technologies and the opportunity to network with influential figures in the AI space.

Takeaways

• 😀 The demand for AI talent is high, with many enterprise clients struggling to fund it, indicating the growing importance of AI in the industry.
• 🚀 Vian, the founder of PM exercises, emphasizes the mission to help people become better product managers, especially in the realm of AI product management.
• 🌟 The company initially focused on interview preparation but has expanded to ongoing education, recognizing the rapid changes in AI and the need for continuous learning.
• 🔑 Success stories from PM exercises' platform highlight the effectiveness of their approach in helping individuals prepare for AI product manager roles.
• 📈 Ongoing access to learning materials for three years is offered to ensure that skills remain up-to-date with the evolving AI landscape.
• 🛠️ PM exercises is focused on creating the best AI product manager learning program, being the first to establish a dedicated cohort for this complex field.
• 🤝 The program provides access to a community, ongoing learning, and an AI assistant to increase productivity, as well as opportunities to connect with influential figures in AI.
• 🌱 The transition from 'AI product managers' to just 'product managers' is anticipated, as understanding AI is expected to become a core competency for all product managers.
• 💼 The importance of not just getting hired but also excelling in the role is underscored, with the need for a deep technical understanding to manage AI products effectively.
• 🔍 The script discusses the process of identifying and creating job opportunities, with an emphasis on self-sourcing and the power of hackathons to build networks and skills.
• 📚 The content of the AI product management cohort is outlined, detailing the skills required and the structure of the program to develop a comprehensive understanding of AI in product management.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of PM exercises?

The primary focus of PM exercises is to help people become better product managers, with a special emphasis on AI product management as the next big thing for the PM community.

What is the significance of the statement 'today we call them AI product managers, but tomorrow we're just going to call them product managers'?

This statement signifies the belief that understanding AI will become a fundamental expectation for all product managers in the future, making the 'AI' prefix unnecessary.

How does PM exercises measure success in helping users prepare for interviews?

PM exercises measures success by tracking the success rate in landing jobs among people who have used their platform to prepare for interviews.

What is the importance of ongoing education in the AI product management field according to the transcript?

Ongoing education is crucial because the AI space is rapidly changing, and taking a course or cohort now might not be sufficient to keep one's skill set updated a year later.

What does PM exercises provide to users for ongoing learning?

PM exercises provides access to everything developed on an ongoing basis for a three-year period, ensuring that users' knowledge and skills in AI product management stay updated.

Who is Kai and what is his role in the context of the transcript?

Kai is the lead product manager for the AI platform team at Uber, managing Uber's internal machine learning platform called Michelangelo. He is involved in leading the AI product management cohort.

What is the role of hackathons in creating opportunities for AI product managers?

Hackathons are important for creating opportunities as they allow individuals to meet others interested in sharing knowledge, build products, and demonstrate thought leadership, making candidates more attractive for AI product management roles.

Why is it necessary to have a deep technical understanding as an AI product manager?

A deep technical understanding is necessary to apply product management skills effectively, make informed trade-offs, and turn visions or ideas into real AI products that solve real-world problems.

What are some of the hidden opportunities in the AI industry for product managers?

Hidden opportunities include positions that are not advertised and may only become available when a company identifies a perfect candidate for a problem they were not clear how to address.

How can an AI product manager candidate make themselves attractive to potential employers?

Candidates can make themselves attractive by gaining relevant experience, participating in hackathons, publishing thought leadership content, and demonstrating passion and willingness to learn and adapt in the AI space.

What is the importance of the interview evaluation process in securing a job as an AI product manager?

The interview evaluation process is crucial as it is where candidates often fall short. It is not enough to just get an introduction or referral; candidates must pass a rigorous interview process to demonstrate their AI product management skills and knowledge.