AI tools trigger all kinds of emotions across all professions. Will using AI lead to job loss, skill obsolescence, loss of control, and problems with privacy and security? Or maybe, on the contrary, it will increase productivity, enhance processes, improve project management, and boost creativity.
No matter what we all think, we can be sure of one thing: AI tools are here to stay. And if you learn how to use them properly, they will make your work easier. In this article, we will take a closer look at how AI can be leveraged by product managers.
At Wrike, we work with different types of data — mainly text, tabular data, and search. We believe that a third of our AI backlog can be significantly improved and simplified by using OpenAI or similar APIs. With such technologies, we can deliver value not in a year but in a month or two. And you can even start without any data science or machine learning expertise at all.
Leveraging AI in Wrike’s Work Intelligence® solution
To further enhance the capabilities of AI solutions and make them accessible to a wider audience, Wrike has developed a suite of Work Intelligence® features. These AI-powered capabilities are designed to help teams work smarter and more efficiently. Some of these features include the following:
- Automated task prioritization: AI-driven recommendations prioritize tasks based on urgency, providing a ready-made to-do list for you and your team
- Project risk management: Machine learning identifies historical patterns and issues, offering a 360° view of risk factors to prevent delays and optimize resources
- Mobile voice commands: Create, check, and access tasks and projects using voice commands on your smartphone, reducing admin time
- Document digitization: Convert paper notes into digital files by capturing text from printed documents using your mobile camera
- AI-led subtasks: Transform rough notes into tasks and subtasks, streamlining the process from initial ideas to successful delivery
And here are some features that are coming soon:
- Generative AI: Enhance productivity by creating powerful descriptions, summarizing discussions, and converting documents into actionable tasks
- Work assistant: Get personalized solutions, receive instant answers, and catch up with updates using your AI-driven educational wizard
- Intelligent search: Enjoy an improved AI-powered search with complex answers and natural language support
- Smart suggestions: Replace repetitive tasks with pre-filled content, automated rules, and smart suggestions from your new AI co-worker
AI for product managers
My colleague, Igor Akimov, Product Manager for AI Solutions, recently gave a presentation on this very topic at ProductCamp EU. Here are the key takeaways that will help you understand how AI tools are revolutionizing the work of product managers by automating repetitive tasks, boosting creativity, and optimizing efficiency.
Let’s discover the benefits of AI tools across text, graphics, and audio while also debunking common myths surrounding AI technology.
Working with text
AI-powered tools like ChatGPT are redefining productivity and job satisfaction for professionals working with text. An MIT study revealed that ChatGPT users completed tasks quicker, scored higher, and experienced greater job satisfaction compared to their non-GPT counterparts. AI can bridge the gap between junior and senior professionals, fostering a more efficient and creative work environment.
However, this will only work if you learn how to talk to ChatGPT.
ChatGPT cheat sheet
To make sure that the generated results are accurate and relevant for you and your use cases, be as specific as you can.
First and foremost, always use English, since ChatGPT operates in an English language model and is optimized to perform in English better than in other languages.
Then use the following formula:
- Role: As X… (e.g., As a product manager…)
- Context: Describe the context of the situation (e.g., We are a [industry] company working with X on Y market)
- Question: Formulate a good question (e.g., Help us figure out three OKRs)
- Format: Specify the desired format of your result (e.g., in text, a table, a 10-point list, a series of tweets, a CSV file, pixel art, etc.)
- Examples: Provide an example or two (e.g., problem → solution) — optional but highly recommended
You can ask to clarify the answer or make it shorter, longer, more understandable, and so on.
You can also use these three techniques for better reasoning:
- Ask to answer step by step (e.g., Let’s work this out in a step-by-step way to be sure we have the right answer.)
- Ask to add a critique to a previous answer (e.g., You are a researcher tasked with investigating the [what you need to criticize] response options provided. List the flaws and faulty logic of each answer option. Let’s work this out in a step-by-step way to be sure we have all the errors.)
- Ask to improve the answer by resolving the found issues (e.g., You are a resolver tasked with finding which of the above answer options the researcher thought was best, improving that answer, and printing the improved answer in full. Let’s work this out in a step-by-step way to be sure we have the right answer.)
See more information here. Once you and ChatGPT speak the same language, you can easily generate content like survey questions, customer interview emails, customer journey maps, OKRs, summaries of customer reviews, or even ideas for your next product features.
Privacy and security concerns
I’m sure you’ve heard that in OpenAI, all input is used to train future models. Is there a way to avoid this? Your data won’t be processed and used to train future models if you use the API.
If you can’t use the API, please anonymize your sensitive data — remove names, company names, addresses, emails, IPs, phones, etc.
Using a machine translation service? Please anonymize your data. Don’t include personal or confidential information.
For most language pairs, Google generates the best results, followed by DeepL, Amazon, Yandex, and Microsoft (The State of Machine Translation 2022). Please check the terms of service for the machine translation service you use.
Working with graphics
AI is shaking up the graphics industry with groundbreaking tools like DALL·E 2, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. This next-gen, AI-driven design toolkit allows designers to focus on creativity, leaving the technicalities to AI (for example, when visualizing a modern sports car in the style of a pencil sketch).
For product managers, the integration of AI in the graphics domain presents an opportunity to optimize the design workflow, reduce time-consuming iterations, and accelerate project timelines. By leveraging AI-generated visuals, product managers can swiftly validate design concepts and make data-driven decisions, ultimately enhancing the overall product development process.
Additionally, AI-driven graphics tools can help product managers address customer needs more effectively, as they can rapidly prototype and test various design alternatives to identify the most impactful solutions. Plus, it will help you quickly illustrate your slides, too! Don’t forget to use enterprise-tiered subscriptions to get ownership of generated images.
Working with audio
AI is also making significant progress in audio processing. Tools like Adobe Podcast can upgrade sound from your calls with customers and produce high-quality results. With just a few seconds of your voice, these tools can create unidentifiable voice prompts, making audio editing more efficient and accessible.
For product managers, these developments in AI-driven audio processing offer numerous opportunities to enhance their role and streamline workflows. You are able to quickly navigate around customer recordings and provide better-recorded presentations to your colleagues and customers.
In addition, AI-powered audio tools, such as text-to-speech, can help product managers overcome language barriers and expand their products’ reach to a global audience. With AI’s ability to generate voice prompts in various languages and accents, product managers can localize their offerings more efficiently, catering to diverse markets and enhancing their products’ accessibility.
Busting myths about AI
So we know how to use AI to leverage it in a safe way in our daily work, especially in product management. But we keep hearing three common misconceptions about AI tools, so let’s clarify them once and for all.
Myth 1: AI is just hype
While there are instances of inflated expectations and fraudsters in the AI industry, AI has come a long way and is now delivering tangible results. The rapid evolution of AI technology is similar to what Clayton Christensen described in his book, “Disruptive Innovation.”
Myth 2: AI will only replace low-paying jobs
AI has the potential to impact various job roles, including creative and experienced professionals. Adapting and learning how to use AI effectively to stay relevant in the job market is crucial.
Myth 3: Legal issues will delay AI adoption
Although legal concerns exist, proactively addressing them and adapting to the evolving landscape is vital. AI can potentially enhance developers’ performance five-fold, making it a game changer in how we work. It can also significantly improve the performance of everyone working with texts, images, sound, and data.
Tips and tricks to succeed with AI tools
1. Start by integrating AI tools into your daily tasks to improve efficiency and productivity.
2. Stay updated with the latest AI developments and tools to stay ahead in the competitive market. You can check Product Hunt and Futurepedia for AI-related product releases.
3. Collaborate with AI tools to enhance your creativity and deliver better results.
4. Dive deeper and learn how to train ML models using your data to get customized results that cater to your unique needs.
AI is far more than just a passing trend; it is a groundbreaking advancement in the tech industry that is transforming various professions and industries. Mastering the use of AI tools, such as those enhancing text, graphics, and audio processing, will empower professionals like product managers to stay ahead in their careers and shape the future of their field.
By embracing AI, you can streamline workflows, optimize efficiency, and foster creativity, ultimately unlocking the potential to transform your and your teams’ work and life.
Moreover, AI-driven innovation enables professionals to devise more personalized, engaging, and accessible products and services that cater to diverse customer needs and preferences.
Remember: We are witnessing the early days of AI tools, and they are here to stay and revolutionize professions across various industries. And don’t worry, AI won’t steal your job — but those who learn how to use it effectively will.
This article was written by a Wriker, in Wrike. See what it’s like to work with us and what career development opportunities we offer here.
Also, hear from our founder, Andrew Filev, about Wrike’s culture and values, the ways we work and appreciate Wrikers, and more here.
