As AI automates generalist PM tasks like documentation and context sharing, the role is evolving. The new path to value is specialization. PMs should identify their passion—be it data, design, or prototyping—and master the corresponding AI tools to develop deep, defensible expertise.

The "AI PM" title is a temporary distinction that will become redundant. The expert view is that within a few years, all products will have smart functionality. As a result, every Product Manager will de facto be an AI PM, and the specialized title will become obsolete, just like "Internet PM" did.

The current PM career path is flawed, driven by framework obsession, advice from inexperienced creators, and a premature rush to leadership. This creates "strategy theatre" where leaders lack foundational experience, perpetuating a cycle of ineffectiveness and contributing to the craft's demise.

High-level titles are context-dependent and fade once you leave a company. This realization should shift your focus from chasing promotions to building products that create a lasting personal legacy, as that is an impact you truly own.

The defining trait of a great PM isn't knowing a specific domain like AI from the start, but their ability to learn new domains and technologies quickly. Companies that hire for this "learning velocity" and curiosity will build stronger, more adaptable teams than those who narrowly filter for trendy keyword expertise.

Your personal brand should transcend your current job title. Identify recurring themes in your career and articulate them as core "I am" statements (e.g., "I love to build things from the ground up"). These statements should be true for you across different companies and roles, forming an authentic and enduring brand.

AI's rise means traditional product roles are merging. Instead of identifying as a PM or designer, focus on your core skills (e.g., visual aesthetics, systems thinking) and use AI to fill gaps. This 'builder' mindset, focused on creating end-to-end, is key for future relevance.

Chasing every new skill and opportunity without a core direction can leave you with a diverse but unfocused career. This ultimately neglects your own brand while you spend decades building the brands of others.

The proliferation of AI-specific titles is often a strategic move to appease investors and the market. It's a form of corporate signaling, demonstrating the company is "doing AI," regardless of whether the underlying roles or strategies have fundamentally changed. This is driven by hype cycles, not operational needs.