Will the widespread adoption of prompt engineering commoditize project management skills, or can it help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value?

I think the answer is neither. While the models cannot stand along and it changes the way the PMs will perform work it does not command a higher skill as AI gets baked into every facet of life and therefore does not demand a higher value for the work.

Hi,

I see this as less of an either/or question and more of a shift in where value shows up.

In my experience as a Scrum Master and Agile Coach, prompt engineering can absolutely commoditize certain execution-level tasks—status reporting, documentation, initial planning drafts—because those are activities where speed and structure matter most.

At the same time, I don’t see it commoditizing the core of project or Agile leadership. If anything, it raises the bar. Knowing how to prompt an AI effectively still requires clarity of thought, understanding of context, and judgment about what to trust, adapt, or challenge.

Two PMs can use the same AI tool and get very different outcomes depending on their ability to frame problems, engage stakeholders, and make decisions under ambiguity. From that lens, prompt engineering becomes less about replacing PM skills and more about amplifying them.

So I see AI and prompting as freeing us from repetitive work, while shifting our value toward facilitation, sense‑making, coaching, and outcomes—areas that remain deeply human and situational. Those who lean into that shift may actually differentiate themselves more, not less, thank you.

Best regards,

Juan Carlos.

I doubt that AI will replace PMs fully. Al long as there are humans working in projects there is a need for a human interaction with the leadership. The empathic leadership needs a human touch, and although AI is, and will be even more so, an important tool for PMs, it will not replace us.

Similar to many other fields, project managers who use generative AI to automate, brainstorm, analyze will remain ahead of the curve and commend higher value. The value is in how we combine all of these inputs and use our insights and values to be efficient and affective.

Yes, adoption of prompt engineering will give value in project management to those who have a good capacity to understand and adapt in this disruptive, changing and developing world within less time.

Prompt engineering will not commoditize project management — it will amplify the gap between PMs who simply manage tasks and those who use AI strategically. PMs who combine experience, judgment, and AI‑driven insights will deliver faster, clearer decisions and higher‑value outcomes than ever before. In fact, the ability to use AI effectively differentiates strong PMs, because tools can automate work — but they can’t replace leadership, context, or accountability.

It will never be able to repace soft skills, but I do think if you don't stay ahead of this you'll be left behind.