Will the widespread adoption of prompt engineering commoditize project management skills, or can it help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value?
Director, Learning Design & Development| PMIAsheville, NC, United States
Hi PMI Community! I’m Sarah Philbrick, and I work as a Product Manager at PMI with a focus on our learning offerings. As we go on this skill-building journey together, I’m excited to engage in meaningful conversations, explore trending topics, and learn from each other.
Reflecting on one such topic, GenAI and prompt engineering, I am interested to hear your perspective on commoditization vs. differentiation.
Will the widespread adoption of prompt engineering commoditize project management skills, or can it help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value?
Yong Wen JingSenior Consultant| Turner & TownsendSungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia
Prompting would not commoditize PM Skills as this skill resemble a soft skill that we human adopt daily to live. As a professional PM, I believe we understand how to communicate with stakeholders to solve problem and achieve objective. Translating what you already do daily into a AI language to engage with AI tools. Simple as that. Saving Changes...
Kathy HarvelIT Specialist - retired| Federal Government - retiredFort Worth, Tx, United States
I believe there will always be a need for project managers. While AI can provide information, step-by-step processes and other vital information for project management, a good project manager will see the AI results as ideas in the bigger picture. AI results should never be used as the end-all solution. PMs should take the results and analyze them against the project to fill in the gaps and add information. Saving Changes...
ROBSON BANDEIRAADVISOR (ECONOMIST)| SEGOV/COPIFOR - CITY HALL OF FORTALEZAFortaleza, Brazil
May 07, 2025 12:49 AM
Replying to Pascal Pontinha
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Thank you, Sarah, for initiating this important discussion—and Sergio, I appreciate your bold perspective. The idea that generative AI has rendered traditional PM and BA roles “dead” is certainly provocative, and I agree that the PMI’s free courses on GenAI and the three-layer model offer valuable insights into how our profession is evolving.
That said, I’d like to offer a slightly different take—not on the end of project management, but on its transformation.
1. AI Needs Oversight: Generative AI is powerful, but it’s not infallible. Without the supervision of an experienced PM, AI outputs can be flawed or even harmful. The principle of “garbage in, garbage out” still applies. Human judgment remains essential.
2. Data Quality is Critical: The effectiveness of prompt engineering depends heavily on the quality of the data it draws from. Only a seasoned PM or BA can reliably detect hallucinations or inconsistencies in AI-generated content.
3. Prompt Engineering is a Skill—Not a Shortcut: Crafting effective prompts is an iterative, creative process. Experienced PMs are more likely to generate prompts that yield meaningful, context-aware results.
4. Structuring Data for AI: One of the most valuable emerging roles for PMs is ensuring that project data is clean, well-structured, and AI-ready. This foundational work is critical to unlocking AI’s full potential.
5. Differentiation Through Integration: I strongly agree with Md. Golam Rob Talukdar's comment that while AI may streamline certain tasks, PMs who combine technical fluency, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking will continue to command high value.
6. AI as a Productivity Multiplier, Not a Replacement: In the short to medium term, AI will augment—not replace—project managers. It will automate routine tasks, freeing us to focus on leadership, innovation, and stakeholder engagement.
7. Ethical Leadership is Key: As experienced PMs, we have a responsibility to ensure that AI tools are used ethically and transparently. Our track records of integrity position us to lead this charge.
In short, I don’t believe our roles are dead—they’re being redefined. Those who embrace AI as a partner, not a threat, will find themselves more relevant than ever.
Hello, Pascal. Thanks for sharing not only your thoughts about the Sarah's question, but also for do this with an excellent structured points of reflection. I agree with you on thinking of AI will (or have been) transform(ing) the project management, but not replacing human judgment, emotional intelligence and ethical concerns, as you said. A lastly detach when you said "AI as a Productivity Multiplier, Not a Replacement". I think it is the most important contribution of AI for project managers. Saving Changes...
ROBSON BANDEIRAADVISOR (ECONOMIST)| SEGOV/COPIFOR - CITY HALL OF FORTALEZAFortaleza, Brazil
Hello from Brazil, Sarah. I think the widespread adoption of prompt engineering will help to differentiate the project managers that embrace the use of AI in their projects and consequently will improve the value delivered for the clients/ stakeholders. Combining my curiosity and exciting for the GenAI and this PMI's courses, I have been using GenAI (ChatGPT, MS Copilot and PMI Infinity) in some job tasks day-by-day and it has been very usefull in salve time, find (and taylored) templates and be more specific in summarize value information for decision making, for example. I think is just the beggining of a transformation of project management, and all of us should be opened to understand, learn, test, refine and transform ourselves to improve our qualities as PMs. Saving Changes...
The widespread adoption of prompt engineering will not commoditize project management (PM) skills — instead, it is more likely to amplify the distinction between average and high-performing PMs. Here's how it breaks down: Why Prompt Engineering Won’t Commoditize PM Skills:
PM is Context-Driven: Project management involves navigating ambiguity, stakeholder dynamics, organizational politics, changing requirements, and team culture. Prompt engineering helps with tools (e.g., planning, reporting, automation), but doesn’t replace emotional intelligence, leadership, or decision-making under uncertainty.
Prompt Engineering Still Requires Domain Insight: Effective prompting demands understanding what to ask for and how to apply the results. PMs with deep domain or cross-functional knowledge will wield AI more effectively than generalists — creating a multiplier effect for those already skilled.
Commoditization Risk Lies with Task-Based PMs: PMs who merely act as schedulers, note-takers, or Jira babysitters may find parts of their roles easily replicated by AI agents. This creates downward pressure on salaries for low-value PM roles.
The big difference that AI brings is that PMs who use it will replace those who don't use it. However, AI will not replace PMs in the workplaces.
Hence, AI will not commoditize project management. Saving Changes...
Speaking as a seasoned Project Manager with 10+ years in the construction industry, I can tell you this: prompt engineering won't commoditise project management—it will amplify the value of those who know how to wield it effectively.
. Prompt Engineering Can Be a Force Multiplier for PMs
If used right, prompt engineering makes a PM faster, more strategic, and data-driven.
AI has come to stay, and it is not going to replace the need for humans to play the role of project manager still, in my opinion. What is important is for project managers to embrace AI, leverage it for effectiveness and efficiency in their project delivery. Saving Changes...
PATRICIA DE FREITAS VELASCOProject Manager| Prosolution Consultoria e Sistemas Informaticos LTDABelém, Pará, Brazil
AI and prompt engineering tools make routine tasks easier for project managers. However, experience, sensitivity and practical knowledge are essential for good interaction with AI. I believe that the human factor will still prevail for many years to come. Saving Changes...
I'm of the opinion that the widespread adoption of prompt engineering will help PMs differentiate themselves and command higher value. Knowing fully well that learning a something new like Prompt Engineering in AI would not generally be embraced in the first instance. Saving Changes...
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