Andrew Ng on Why AI Product Management is the Future!

Writing software, especially prototypes, is becoming cheaper by the day. Every day, we see leaders talking about reducing the cost of software development with the help of AI agents. As building becomes cheaper, the demand for people who can decide what to build is going to increase.

This is where AI Product Managers come in.

They’re the bridge between the technical experts who build the software and the end-users who actually use it. They’re the ones who ask the big questions: What problem are we solving? Who are we solving it for? And how can AI make it better?

Andrew Ng—paints a vivid picture of why AI Product Management is going to become a career path with a future brighter than a Tesla’s headlights.

Check out what AI leaders are saying on Software Development. 

What is AI Product Management? 

AI Product Management is the discipline of developing and managing AI-powered software products. It’s like traditional product management, but with a twist: instead of just focusing on features, user needs, and business goals, AI Product Managers also need to understand the unique challenges and opportunities that AI brings to the table.

AI Product Managers are responsible for:

• Identifying problems that AI can solve.
• Defining the product vision and strategy for AI-powered solutions.
• Collaborating with engineers, data scientists, and designers to build AI models and integrate them into products.
• Ensuring the 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 too will the role of the AI Product Manager.

Software Development: A Tale of Two Complements

Ng starts with a simple yet powerful analogy: cars and gasoline. When cars became cheaper, demand for gasoline shot up. Why? 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, the demand for people who can decide what to build will surge. These decision-makers are, of course, Product Managers (PMs). They’re the ones who figure out what features to build, for whom, and why. And with AI in the mix, their role is about to get a whole lot more exciting (and complicated).

Skills Required to Become an AI Product Manager

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

Ng outlines the unique skills AI Product Managers need:

1. Technical Proficiency in AI: PMs need to understand what’s 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 messy. They require constant tweaking, testing, and course-correcting. PMs need to embrace the chaos.
3. Data Proficiency: AI thrives on data. PMs need to understand how to collect, use, and generate it effectively.
4. Skill in Managing Ambiguity: AI’s performance is often unpredictable. PMs need to be comfortable with uncertainty and have strategies to navigate it.
5. Ongoing Learning: AI evolves faster than a TikTok trend. PMs need to stay updated on the latest tech and how it fits into users’ lives.
6. Responsible AI Implementation: PMs must ensure AI is used ethically, with guardrails to prevent bad outcomes.

A Shortage of AI-Savvy PMs

While engineers are quick to use AI, PMs are lagging behind. Ng points out that most companies struggle to find people who can bridge the gap between product development and AI expertise. This shortage is only going to grow as AI becomes more pervasive.

But fear not! Ng sees this as an opportunity. Whether you’re an engineer looking to expand your skill set or a PM ready to dive into the AI deep end, the future is ripe with possibilities.

Why Become an AI Product Manager in 2025?

Ng’s message is clear: the demand for AI Product Managers is about to explode. Whether you’re a seasoned PM, a curious engineer, or someone just starting their career, now is the time to level up. The variety of valuable things we can build with AI is nearly unlimited. From chatbots that don’t make you want to throw your phone out the window to AI-driven healthcare solutions, the possibilities are endless.

How to Become an AI Product Manager in 2025?

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

• Generative AI – A Way of Life
• Getting Started with Large Language Models
• Building LLM Applications using Prompt Engineering
• Building Your first RAG System using LlamaIndex
• Anyone can Build AI Agents
• Creating Problem-Solving Agents using GenAI for Action Composition

You can find all our free courses here.

End Note

The future of AI Product Management isn’t just coming – it’s already here. The question isn’t if you’ll be part of it, but how.

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

Explore free courses to become AI-enabled!

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Nitika Sharma

Hello, I am Nitika, a tech-savvy Content Creator and Marketer. Creativity and learning new things come naturally to me. I have expertise in creating result-driven content strategies. I am well versed in SEO Management, Keyword Operations, Web Content Writing, Communication, Content Strategy, Editing, and Writing.