Are Product Managers in B2B Data Products Safe with Gen AI Evolution?

Madhumita Mantri
3 min readJan 5, 2024

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The rise of Generative AI (Gen AI) is sending tremors through the job market, leaving many professionals wondering if their roles are on the chopping block. While automation will undoubtedly reshape certain industries, B2B data product managers (PMs) can breathe easy — unique human skills are precisely what will keep you thriving in the Gen AI era.

AI: A Powerful Partner, Not a Replacement

Let’s dispel the myth: Gen AI isn’t here to steal jobs. Its strength lies in crunching data and generating content, tasks that are ripe for automation. But what separates B2B data PMs from the pack is something AI can’t replicate: the human touch.

Secret Weapon: Human Skills

1. Empathy & Judgment: Understanding customer needs is more than just analyzing data points. It’s about putting oneself in their shoes, feeling their pain points, and translating those emotions into actionable strategies. Gen AI lacks this crucial human empathy, leaving the door wide open for B2B data PMs to excel.

2. Deep Domain Expertise: B2B data products cater to specific industries with their unique complexities. Navigating these nuances requires deep domain knowledge, from regulatory landscapes to data trends. Gen AI can learn, but it can’t match the years of dedicated experience B2B data PMs bring to the table.

3. Innovation Incubators: True innovation doesn’t sprout from algorithms; it sparks from human creativity and critical thinking. B2B data PMs are the masterminds behind game-changing solutions, constantly pushing boundaries and coming up with ideas that AI can’t even conceive.

Future-Proofing PM Playbook

While you’re safe from extinction, complacency is the enemy. To thrive in the Gen AI landscape, B2B data PMs need to upskill and evolve. Here’s the playbook:

1. Sharpen the Strategic Edge: Hone the market analysis, competitive intelligence, and business strategy skills. Understanding the bigger picture will allow you to guide the product in the ever-changing AI landscape.

2. Dive Deeper into the Domain: Become an industry expert. Stay ahead of data trends, understand regulatory nuances, and anticipate customer needs. The more immersed you are, the more invaluable you become.

3. Embrace Data & Analytics: Data is a friend, not a foe. Learn to interpret insights and leverage tools like BI dashboards to inform decisions and product strategy.

4. Master the Art of Storytelling: The ability to communicate complex product concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences is crucial. Captivate stakeholders with the vision and win them over to the ideas.

5. Collaborate with AI, Not Against It: View AI as a powerful tool in the arsenal, not a threat. Learn to leverage its capabilities for tasks like content generation and customer insights to free up time and brainpower for higher-level thinking.

6. Build a Network: Connections are currency. Cultivate relationships with industry leaders, potential customers, and fellow PMs. Collaboration and shared knowledge will be key to navigating the AI landscape together.

B2B data PMs, AI is not the doom, it’s the opportunity. Embrace the future, upskill, and collaborate. With the unique blend of human skills and technological understanding, one’ll be at the forefront of shaping the B2B data product landscape in the Gen AI era.

Go forth and conquer!

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Madhumita Mantri
Madhumita Mantri

Written by Madhumita Mantri

I write about How to Empower Data and AI Innovation with 0 to 1 Product Mastery and Product Management Interview prep, Career Transition to PM!

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