Introduction

If you’re intrigued by the intersection between technology and innovation and also have a knack for strategy and driving product success, you might be interested in a career as an AI product manager. In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, AI product managers play an important role in shaping the future of technology-driven products and services. But how exactly can you become one?

TL;DR

Becoming an AI Product Manager involves understanding the role’s fundamentals, overseeing AI integration into product development, and optimizing user experiences. To break into the field, consider:

• Gaining Technical Product Management Certification: Offers skills transferable to AI PM roles.
• Learning Product Management Fundamentals: Acquire cross-disciplinary skills through certified courses.
• Getting AI-specific Certifications: Enhances attractiveness to companies developing AI products.
• Gaining AI Project Experience: Participate in AI initiatives to acquire practical insights and skills essential for AI PM roles.

What is AI product management?

Before we dive into how you can become an AI product manager, let’s talk about what this role entails. AI product management revolves around overseeing the development and implementation of artificial intelligence models within products or services. This involves understanding market needs, crafting effective product strategies, and ensuring the successful integration of AI technologies to deliver value to users

What do AI product managers do?

AI product managers oversee how AI algorithms are integrated into product development. They also ensure these technologies align and are developed according to industry standards. In a nutshell, they bring together everyone on the product development team (the developer, designers, and marketers) and propel them towards a valuable and marketable output.

Their role covers everything from defining AI-driven features to optimizing user experiences. Essentially, AI product managers bridge the gap between technical intricacies and user-centric design, which ultimately leads to the successful implementation of AI-powered solutions.

How to become an AI product manager

There are many paths to becoming an AI product manager. In this section, we’ll discuss four ways to break into the field. Keep reading if you’re ready to delve into the world of AI product management and shape the future of technology-driven products.

1. Get certified in technical product management

The roles of a technical product manager and an AI product manager are very similar. The only difference is that AI PMs usually have a background in machine learning and artificial intelligence, while technical PMs may not. So, as a technical PM, you’ll be able to solve many of the problems AI PMs deal with daily. These challenges include uncertainty in investing in AI products, managing computing power, and dealing with a novel technology.

So, if you’re thinking of becoming an AI product manager but still want to have the choice to pivot into other fields, technical product management is the way to go.

In addition, you should learn about the methodologies and frameworks other AI PMs in the field use to ensure AI solutions become successful products.

Technical product management courses and certifications

Product HQ Certified Technical Product Manager

While the word, certified, is in the name of this program, it’s simply an online course and not a traditional product management certification. However, it’s comprehensive enough to help you gain the technical skills and knowledge you need to make important product decisions and survive as a technical product manager.

Pros

• It teaches the fundamentals of the technical PM role.
• You’ll learn how to future-proof your current products.
• You’ll learn how to succeed at technical PM interviews and land a job.
• You’ll learn how to balance short and long-term trade-offs.
• You get a certificate of completion to show off on LinkedIn.

Cons

• It’s expensive for 10 hours of content.
• The course provider offers other courses in product management, so the information is a little streamlined compared to technical product management.

Course Fee: $399

Technical Product Management LinkedIn

This is a short course that is 1 hour and 5 minutes on LinkedIn and is part of the platform’s learning program. The moment you finish the course, technical product management is added to your skills and the course on your list of certifications. Enrolling in the course also means you’ll appear more to recruiters looking for product managers with technical skills.

Pros

• It’s a short course.
• It gives you an introduction to what technical product managers do.
• You get a certificate of completion to show off on LinkedIn.

Cons

• It doesn’t cover a lot of important topics.

Course Fee: LinkedIn Premium Subscription

Technical Product Management: learn on 4 real industry cases

This technical product management course is on Udemy and can be completed in 3 hours. In this course, you will learn about the role of a technical product manager, the skills and responsibilities required for the role, and how to communicate and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. You will also learn about industry case studies of applying technical PM skills and how to prepare for your next role.

Pros

• You’ll learn about architecture, APIs, monitoring, and other technical building blocks.
• You’ll learn the differences between a developer, tech PM, PM, program manager, and project manager in a company.
• You’ll learn how to improve the projects you’re currently working on with a technical approach.
• It’s short, and you can easily complete it.

Cons

• It’s not for beginners.
• It’s not an industry standard certificate

Course Fee: $94.99

2. Learn the fundamentals of product management

Technical skills are important for AI product managers to develop a successful AI product, but that’s not all they need. Product management requires juggling skills from different fields, including business, technology, user experience, and data science.

You can develop your foundation in product management by enrolling in courses that cover fundamentals like product lifecycle management, team coordination, product roadmap development, user research, user personas, use cases, and user experience design.

This knowledge will teach you how to manage cross-functional teams and equip you with everything product managers need to succeed, even in the artificial intelligence industry.

Courses to Learn Product Management Fundamentals

Product Management Studio

This online course is from Berkeley Executive Education. It’s a globally recognized product management program with a syllabus for aspiring and current product managers. The program runs for 40 hours and is COBE, a Certificate of Business Excellence eligible program. The curriculum is comprehensive and globally recognized.

Pros

• You’ll learn about product management fundamentals.
• Doesn’t take too long to complete. 
• You get a globally recognized certificate of completion.
• Exclusive networking opportunity.

Cons

• It’s expensive.
• It doesn’t hold all year round. 

Course Fee: $3,375

IBM Product Manager Professional Certificate

The IBM Product Manager Certificate is not a certification course but a full-on professional program for aspiring product managers and those already in the field. The program has 6 courses that cover everything and all the essential skills necessary for entry-level product management roles.

By taking the course, you gain key skills and experience in building a product concept and vision, developing a product backlog, creating a product roadmap, and managing a product’s lifecycle. You can take the course on Coursera by paying their subscription fee.

Pros

• You don’t need to have experience to take the program.
• The program is completely online.
• You can complete it in four months or less.
• It’s not as expensive as other product management certification programs.
• The curriculum is developed by IBM, a well-respected tech company, which can add value to your resume.
• The program focuses on practical projects, which allow you to build a portfolio that showcases your product management skills and abilities.

Cons

• It can take a long time to complete.
• It can end up costing a lot if you don’t complete it within a short timeframe.

Course Fee: Coursera Premium Subscription

Product Manager Certification (PMC)™

If you’re looking to enhance your capabilities in the realm of product management, consider exploring the Product Manager Certification (PMC) provided by Product School. This program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip you with essential skills to efficiently lead a product team. 

Pros

• Covers various aspects of product management, including strategy, development, and leadership skills.
• Provides practical knowledge directly applicable to real-world scenarios.
• Offers online and in-person classes to suit different schedules.
• You can work on building a portfolio during the program.

Cons

• It’s expensive.
• It doesn’t have in-depth coverage of specialized areas.

Course Fee: $4,199

3. Get certified in artificial intelligence (Learn About AI and ML ) in product management

Another way you can make yourself attractive to companies developing AI products is to get certified in artificial intelligence or take product management courses that are specifically designed for aspiring or current AI product managers.

These certifications can help you stand out from other candidates and show that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the role.

Additionally, taking product management courses that focus on artificial intelligence and machine language can help you better understand the unique challenges and opportunities in developing artificial intelligence products. These courses can provide you with valuable insights and strategies for effectively handling AI systems, from ideation to launch.

Overall, investing in AI and AI product management courses can help you make yourself more attractive to companies developing AI-driven products and position yourself for success in this rapidly growing industry. 

AI product management courses

Product HQ’s AI Product Management Certification

AI product managers need to understand topics in AI business management, AI ethics, and machine models. That’s what this course provides. It’s also suitable for people without technical background and will help you prepare to ace interviews in product management as soon as you’re done with the program.

Pros

• It gives comprehensive knowledge about AI business management and the role of AI products.
• Good for people without a technical background, making it accessible to a broader range of professionals.
• The course includes real-world case studies and projects that allow students to apply their knowledge and skills in a practical setting.

Cons

• Completing a full program might require a significant time commitment, which could be challenging for working professionals or students with busy schedules.
• The program has a steep price tag, making it inaccessible to some individuals.

Course Fee: $497

AI Product Manager Nanodegree on Udacity

This nanodegree will walk you through many AI implementations, and what a successful product development process looks like in the AI field.

This course is for seasoned professionals as well as those who are just starting out in the field and it has in-depth topics on AI and ML, Generative AI, Natural language processing, deep learning and autonomous systems.

Pro

• Not expensive for an advanced course.
• Delves into the language of AI.
• Walks you through what’s required of you as a product leader in the new AI landscape.

Cons

• It’s expensive.

Course Fee: $249/month

AI Product Management Specialization by Duke

This program focuses on  crafting specific AI tools and products that provide solutions to real human problems. You’ll also lean about many AI models and by the end of the program, you’ll be able to recognize when and how to use machine machine learning to address unique problems. 

Pros

• The course is on Coursera so you can enrol and start learning for free.
• You’ll learn about the potential of AI and AI integration in products.
• You’ll learn about how to use AI in a way that it follows human-centric practices in privacy.

Cons

• It takes a long time to complete.

Course Fee: Coursera Premium Subscription 

4. Gain Formal/Informal Product Management Experience in AI Projects

Embarking on a journey into the realm of AI product management involves gaining valuable experience through formal or informal avenues, particularly in AI projects. As a result, you have to engage in AI initiatives to get first hand exposure to the intricacies of AI and machine learning technologies, that are important to understand the role of an AI product manager.

Whether through structured internships, hands-on projects, or collaborating with AI teams, acquiring practical experience in AI initiatives equips aspiring product managers with the skills and insights necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of AI-driven products.

So, volunteer, start your own project if you can and see it to completion or semi-completion. Gain some experience for your CV and include it in your portfolio. That way, you can show potential recruiters you know your stuff in AI. 

Take Away

The rise of AI has led to a demand for a new breed of product managers who can lead AI teams and partner with stakeholders to ensure successful AI adoption within organizations. 

In addition to the traditional product management responsibilities, AI product managers must possess soft skills to inform product decisions and drive the product vision for AI initiatives. So, gaining formal or informal product management experience in AI projects can pave the way for a rewarding career in AI product management. 

Whether you’re working as an AI pm, director of product, or leading AI teams, you play an important role in driving the AI journey within companies. You’re responsible for understanding the market, building AI capabilities, and delivering exceptional product experiences that leverage AI and machine learning technologies.