Replacing the PM toolkit with AI — practical guide
Merilin Ekzarkova’s article stands out in the flood of “AI for PMs” content because it names specific tools, shows specific workflows, and is honest about where AI fell short.
What worked
Ekzarkova documents replacing traditional PM tools with AI-powered alternatives across several workflow categories. Research synthesis — turning hours of interview notes into structured insights — saw the most dramatic improvement. Competitive analysis shifted from manual spreadsheet tracking to AI-monitored feeds with automated summaries. First drafts of product specs, user stories, and release notes now start with AI output that she edits rather than blank pages she fills.
The article provides concrete time savings: tasks that took hours now take minutes, with the caveat that the PM still reviews and refines every output.
What did not work
Equally valuable is the list of failures. Stakeholder communication — the nuanced, politically aware messaging that PMs spend significant time crafting — resisted AI automation. Strategic prioritization required too much contextual judgment for AI to handle reliably. And any task involving confidential competitive intelligence or unreleased product plans raised data security concerns that made AI tools impractical.
Why this article matters
The before/after structure makes the advice actionable. Instead of vague recommendations (“use AI for research”), Ekzarkova shows the exact tool, the exact prompt pattern, and the exact quality of output. This specificity lets readers evaluate whether the same approach would work for their situation.
The honest assessment of failures is equally important. Many AI productivity articles present a uniformly positive picture; this one helps PMs set realistic expectations about where AI will and will not help in their daily work.
Who should read this
PMs who are currently evaluating which parts of their workflow to automate with AI. The article serves as a practical checklist of what to try first and what to leave alone.