In today’s fast-moving AI startup scene, product management has unexpectedly taken centre stage as the new bottleneck. Andrew Ng explained on the ‘No Priors’ podcast that while AI-assisted coding now lets teams build prototypes over a weekend rather than over several months, this speed boost comes with its own set of hurdles.
As prototypes are whipped up in record time, waiting for user feedback—sometimes a full week—can really slow you down. This lag is forcing many teams to trust their instincts, often leading to quicker, but sometimes riskier, product decisions.
Ng stresses the importance of having a product manager with deep customer empathy. It’s not about drowning in data; it’s about truly understanding your users and blending that insight with hard facts to make swift, informed choices.
The role of product management in startups is sparking plenty of debate. Tech leaders like Microsoft’s CTO, Kevin Scott, see it as essential in refining AI systems, while others, like Surge AI’s CEO Edwin Chen, remain sceptical about its value during a startup’s early days. Some companies are already experimenting with their approach—Airbnb’s CEO Brian Chesky has merged product management with marketing, and Snap trimmed its product management team to maintain speed.
As the landscape continues to change, balancing engineering skill with smart, intuitive product management will be key for any AI startup aiming to succeed. If you’re navigating this space, it might be time to look at your product strategy as equally important as your technical chops.
