How do you think PM function is going to change with IA & RObotics?

My understanding is that,

IA, AI, RPA, Machine learning - all these functions needs structured or unstructured data to process, Works on a pattern to analyze and produce results. Has a defined algorithm or theory to support the driven results (Supervised). In other cases we are clueless what is the hidden pattern that has given the results.

As we speak, we have a simple program to super intelligent robot in existence. However I am curious to know if there is any robot that has tapped the “soft skill” potential of a human. May be or may be not. I don’t know.

Compassion, Intuition and adaptive mechanism are few of the many skills a PM should posses which machines lag at this moment.

In my opinion, it’s better to leverage all the repetitive tasks and processes to the machines and let us focus on the the soft skills department.

Sooner or later a PM will be undisputedly defined by his or her strong soft skill capabilities.

PMs will need to continuously learn. No news for anyone that has a degree in science/engineering. IA, AI, RPA, Machine learning makes part of the education, students get in a engineering degree.
Professionals keep adapting to technology progress, e.g. windows or office software, since 2000 till present.
If PMs learn about and how to use upcoming SW and HW tools enriched with "AI", most probably will be more productive doing the project activities/tasks having more time to learn new things. Brand new world of opportunities.

I think there is way, if it dont already exist, to use AI for some Quality/Schedule/Cost/Resource/Procurement processes. It may be a harder for Integration/Scope/Communication/Risk/Stakeholder processes as it requires leadership, interaction, judgement, communication and emotional intelligence capabilities.

This is interesting !!!

Being PMP and studying RPA, let me also try to identify something which is different and could affect the human jobs;

-- Most of the setup of down level systems - desktops and laptops can be done automatically
-- Network devices can be configured with predefined script including routing in a router
-- Server OS installation and patching can be automated
-- SBU / Organization wise data copying/shifting to the cloud server
-- Cloud operation via Azure or WBS with its services from user desks
-- Working on Macro enabled workbooks locally or moving it to SharePoint or other platform
-- automatize SAP, sourcing / ordering / resource management, Finance payment processes etc

key is to list down the existing process in steps it is happening and cut it short to automate it as max as possible.

Automation cant be applied where manual intervention is require.

based on my experience and study ~~~ can elaborate

Every project is different and that is why by definition is called Project. Robots now and in future would be more or less doing something which is part of operation. Anything which would involve soft skills and instant decision making on the spot is something which would still remain with Human beings- I guess.

I can see where AI will support the Project Manager. These functions could include analytics for Lessons Learned as well as providing valuable risk management and stakeholder management data. However, there is an inherent success factor of all projects - the human factor. As others have stated, it is hard to assume that the end user, neither internal or external would want to impart their project successes on AI.

Hopefully, some of the mundane, administrative tasks will be automated and allow the PM to utilize more of the soft, team building, and leadership skills.

A PM most valuable asset is how good he can connect, communicate and enable the team to create value and drive results. So in my opinion, if hard skills can be targeted to be executed by the machine, soft skills will be a major challenge to be undertaken by the AI and be recreated or mirrored. But, at the end of the day, the sky is the limit...and the good news for now is we control the machines. The more the AI is developing, the more we can, as well.
Human have way more capabilities in this area, as we were designed to adapt...