how our job will evolve and even exist than now with the emergence of AI Brokers. However let me be upfront that AI instruments don’t change the elemental job of the PM, which is to establish the vital issues to resolve and information the most effective concepts to implementation. AI Brokers can positively increase and, in some circumstances, exchange sure actions, and that could be a good factor.
Don’t give in to alarmist narratives of how your job will probably be negatively impacted. Every PM function is exclusive. Whereas we share widespread facets: create product ideas, outline necessities, iterate with clients, GTM, the day-to-day work of a social media PM may be very totally different from the work of a cloud infrastructure PM, requiring totally different facets to be automated. Because the mini-CEO of your product, solely you resolve what is required for achievement. So try to be the one to resolve how your job will evolve to make your product profitable. You might be within the driver’s seat to decide on what to reinforce or automate with AI brokers to carry out your job higher. A latest Stanford analysis paper defines a helpful framework for making these choices and divulges that employee want for automation is extra of a defining issue for profitable adoption than simply technical feasibility.
The Human-Centric Framework for AI Adoption
The Stanford research sheds mild on methods AI brokers can profit work. It introduces the Human-Centric Automation Matrix, a 2×2 plotting Employee Need towards AI Functionality, to assist prioritize AI automation of PM duties. Highlighting that employees need to automate tedious, repetitive duties however are deeply involved about shedding management and company. An awesome majority of employees within the research apprehensive about accuracy and reliability of AI, with worry of job loss and lack of oversight as different considerations. A working example in highlighting the dangers of full autonomy is the latest problem with Replit wiping out a complete database of an organization, fabricating knowledge to cowl up bugs and finally apologizing (See FastCompany).
This belief deficit logically guidelines out full autonomous AI for high-stakes communication with clients or distributors communications. The desire is clearly for AI taking a partnership or assistive function. The paper introduces the Human Company Scale (HAS), to measure the diploma of automation (cf. ranges of autonomy in self-driving automobiles):
- H1 (no human involvement): The AI agent operates absolutely autonomously.
- H2 (excessive automation): The AI requires minimal human oversight.
- H3 (equal accomplice): Human and AI have equal involvement.
- H4 (partial automation): The AI is a device that requires important human route.
- H5 (human involvement important): The AI is a part that can’t operate with out steady human enter.
Most employees are pretty comfy with the H3-H5 vary, preferring AI to be a accomplice or a device and never a alternative. The choice for the PM isn’t simply what to automate but additionally to which diploma we must always surrender management to the AI Agent.
The idea is defined higher with a 2×2 matrix with Automation Functionality on the X-axis and Automation Need on the Y-axis. The 4 quadrants are categorised as:
- Inexperienced Gentle Zone: Excessive automation want and excessive functionality
- Crimson Gentle Zone: Low want and excessive functionality
- R&D Alternative Zone: Excessive want however low functionality
- Low Precedence Zone: Low want and low functionality
The framework helps decide which jobs are potential and now have a excessive probability of getting adopted within the office.
Placing the Framework into Motion
As an alternative of blindly following mandates to “use AI Brokers” PMs ought to do what they do greatest – suppose strategically on what’s greatest for the enterprise. Use this 2×2 to establish the areas ripe for automation that can have essentially the most influence and maintain your group fortunately productive.
- Inexperienced Gentle Zone: These can be the highest precedence. Automating market insights, synthesizing buyer suggestions, and producing first drafts of PRDs are duties which are each technically possible and extremely desired. They save time and scale back cognitive load, releasing you as much as do higher-level strategic work.
- Crimson Gentle Zone: Proceed with warning. AI has the power to mechanically generate advertising and marketing collateral, handle buyer communication or take care of vendor contracts, however PMs should not prepared to surrender management on these high-stakes duties. An error can have severe penalties and augmentation (H3-H4 on the HAS scale) stands out as the proper possibility.
- R&D Zone: Must innovate to get the tech able to automate the job. Whereas there’s a excessive want for automation however the tech is just not prepared, extra funding is required to get us there.
Most significantly, take cost. The PM-to-engineer ratio isn’t bettering anytime quickly. Including agentic capabilities to your toolkit is your greatest wager for scaling your influence. However drive with warning. To thrive and make your self indispensable, you should be the one shaping the way forward for your function.
Key takeaways
- Prioritize Need Over Feasibility: The Human-Centric Automation Matrix is a strong device. It enhances conventional instruments (e.g., Affect/Effort, RICE, Kano) by contemplating adoption and belief, and never simply functionality. True success is in constructing AI instruments that your group really makes use of.
- Assume Company and Not Simply Automation: Use Human Company Scale (H1-H5) to find out the extent of automation. Knowledge-heavy and repetitive PM duties (e.g., market insights discovery, data-based prioritization) fall into the “Inexperienced Gentle” zone as a result of excessive employee want and readiness for AI. These are additionally inputs to determination making, so obligatory checks and balances are already in place in subsequent steps. Others might fall into simply H4, as simply being a device. This strategy is helpful in managing threat and constructing belief.
- Concentrate on augmentation in high-stakes areas: Inventive, strategic, or customer-facing duties (aka “Crimson Gentle” alternatives) match nicely with augmentation technique. Whereas AI will generate choices, analyze knowledge and supply insights, closing choices and communications should stay with people.
- Core PM Expertise Are Extra Worthwhile Than Ever: AI Brokers will deal with extra of the information-focused actions. We have to additional develop our uniquely human expertise: strategic considering, empathy, stakeholder administration, and organizational management.
The way forward for product administration will probably be formed by the alternatives of forward-thinking PMs, not by simply the AI’s capabilities. Essentially the most profitable and adopted approaches will probably be human-centric, specializing in what PMs really have to excel. Those that grasp this strategic partnership with AI won’t solely survive but additionally outline the way forward for the function.
References
[1] Y. Shao, H. Zope, et al. (2025). “Way forward for Work with AI Brokers: Auditing Automation and Augmentation Potential throughout the U.S. Workforce.” arXiv preprint arXiv:2506.06576v2. https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.06576
[2] S. Lynch (2025). “What employees really need from AI.” Stanford Report. https://information.stanford.edu/tales/2025/07/what-workers-really-want-from-ai
