AI and the Future of the Product Role

This keynote argues that differing product role definitions stem from two operating models: the project model, which yields feature team product managers and agile product owners focused on delivery, and the product model, which yields empowered team product managers focused on product discovery and outcomes. It contends that agentic AI is automating delivery work, making product owner and feature team roles less relevant while increasing demand for empowered team product managers skilled in discovery, especially for probabilistic AI products. It cites Shreyas Doshi on the distinction between product managers focused on output versus outcome.