Becoming an AI PM – Aman Khan (Arize AI, ex-Spotify, Apple, Cruise)

Click to expand the mind map for a detailed view.

Leverage AI Tools for Prototyping: Use tools like Cursor, Replit, and Vercel’s v0 to create functional prototypes and mockups before meetings. This elevates the starting point of discussions.
Build a Portfolio: Stand out as an AI PM candidate by building and showcasing AI-powered prototypes or products using accessible tools like Midjourney, DALL-E, and Replit.
Understand AI Fundamentals: Learn the basics of AI and machine learning through resources like Andrej Karpathy’s videos on YouTube. Focus on understanding how AI works and its boundaries.
Focus on Customer Problems: AI is a tool to solve customer problems, not the end goal. Avoid building AI for the sake of AI; instead, focus on solving real customer pain points.
Be a Wanderer, Not a Waiter: As an AI PM, embrace uncertainty and explore new directions. Don’t wait for perfect solutions; experiment and iterate to find the right path.
Bring Energy to Your Role: Maintain high energy in meetings and problem-solving. This helps build momentum and fosters a positive team culture.
Amplify Signal with AI Tools: Use AI tools like Gong and large language models to analyze customer feedback and identify common pain points at scale.
Have Fun and Stay Curious: Enjoy the process of building and learning. Curiosity and a positive attitude will drive innovation and help you thrive as an AI PM.

AI PMs Bring Prototypes to Meetings: With AI tools, PMs can create high-resolution mockups and prototypes before meetings, providing a stronger starting point for discussions.
Easier to Break into AI PM Now: The barrier to entry for AI PM roles has lowered due to accessible tools and resources like YouTube tutorials on building apps in an hour.

AI Platform PMs: Build tools for AI engineers (e.g., observability platforms like Arize AI).
AI Product PMs: Focus on products where AI is the core experience (e.g., ChatGPT, NotebookLM).
AI-Powered PMs: Use AI tools to enhance their PM workflow, such as prototyping, design, and data analysis.

Prototyping Tools: Cursor, Replit, and Vercel’s v0 allow PMs to quickly build functional prototypes.
Design Tools: Midjourney and DALL-E help create visual assets and user stories.
Analytics Tools: Pendo and Gong help analyze user behavior and feedback.

Learn AI Fundamentals: Understand machine learning and AI basics through resources like Andrej Karpathy’s videos. TAKE NOTE
Build a Portfolio: Create AI-powered prototypes or products to showcase your skills and stand out to hiring managers.TAKE NOTE
Focus on Customer Problems: AI is a tool to solve customer pain points, not the end goal. Avoid building AI for the sake of AI.

Avoid Copying ChatGPT: Don’t just replicate existing AI products. Focus on unique problems and innovative solutions.
Experiment with AI Agents: Explore how AI agents can enhance your product, but ensure they align with customer needs. TAKE NOTE
Measure AI Impact: Define metrics to evaluate the success of AI initiatives within your organization.

Bring Energy: Maintain high energy in meetings and problem-solving to build momentum and foster a positive team culture.
Wander, Don’t Wait: Embrace uncertainty and explore new directions. Experiment and iterate to find the right path.
Amplify Signal with AI Tools: Use AI tools to analyze customer feedback and identify common pain points at scale.

Hackathons: Encourage teams to experiment with AI tools and solve real problems.
Obsess Over User Experience: Study successful AI products and identify what makes them magical. Avoid automating away the entire customer experience.

PMs Are More Important Than Ever: AI tools make it easier to build products, but PMs are essential for identifying what to build and ensuring it solves real customer problems.

Favorite Books: A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson and Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. TAKE NOTE