Preparing Project Managers for an AI-Driven Future | PMI Blog

What excites you most about joining PMI?

Ron: Our relationship with PMI really started when we noticed that a lot of people pursuing the CPMAI certification also had the PMP® certification. And some people recommended that we deepen that relationship. And it just came together. It made complete sense.

Being part of PMI gives us a chance to reach way more people. We can get the CPMAI in front of more project managers around the world. PMI has this established reputation and a global audience, which is something we couldn’t fully achieve on our own.

Kathleen: And it’s not just about reach. PMI brings a level of respect and legitimacy to the CPMAI that will help project managers see AI as a vital part of their skill set. We could only go so far as Cognilytica, but with PMI behind us, project managers everywhere can get prepared for an AI-driven future.

The CPMAI certification sets you up to successfully run and manage AI projects. But right now, many project managers don’t yet manage AI projects but do use AI tools. How should they think about using AI to enhance their daily workflow?

Kathleen: Right now, about 95% of AI conversations are around tools that help people do their jobs better, like ChatGPT or other large language models. For most project managers, AI can be a huge timesaver. Think of it as a tool that takes on repetitive tasks—like summarizing meeting notes or helping with scheduling—so you can focus on higher-value work.

Ron: AI can free you up to focus on the strategic parts of your job. It’s not here to replace project managers; it’s here to make them more efficient. At this moment, a lot of people are using AI from a personal or group productivity perspective. But they are increasingly going to depend on AI as part of their team. You’re already managing more AI than you might think. And in the future, you’ll be managing a lot more. Some things will be done by people and some things will be done by machines and we need to make sure the whole thing is happening in a totally planned way.

What’s one practical way a project manager can start using AI in their projects today?

Kathleen: We always say “Think big. Start small. Iterate often.” Look for ‘low-hanging fruit’ tasks. For example, AI can help with meeting minutes or drafting emails. A lot of project managers use AI to help outline agendas or create templates for reports. Once you see how AI can help with these smaller, repetitive tasks, you’ll start to realize just how much time it can free up.

Ron: Think of AI as your productivity partner. Once you start using it for small tasks, you’ll see other ways it can be useful, too. It’s about giving you time back so you can focus on what really matters. AI might start as a helper, but eventually, it’ll become an indispensable part of your workflow.

Ron: First thing to understand is that AI projects are data projects. If you’re used to traditional software projects, where functionality is front and center, AI is different. AI relies on data quality—"garbage in, garbage out,” as they say. Your primary focus needs to be on getting the right data in and managing the outputs, which are data as well.

Kathleen: A lot of project managers try to treat AI projects like software projects, and that’s a recipe for failure. With AI, it’s essential to use a framework that accounts for the unique demands of data-driven projects. CPMAI is designed to help project managers do just that—it ensures that data, not just software functionality, is the core of the project.

What is the most exciting development in AI that project managers should be watching?

Ron: The most exciting part, in my opinion, is how AI is becoming embedded in the tools we already use. You’re not going to have to seek out AI—it’s going to be built into your project management software, your spreadsheets, your presentations. Augmentation is really the big win here. We’re moving into a world where you’ll be able to tell Excel what you want it to do, and it’ll just do it. That’s huge for project managers who are already juggling a million things. That’s what I love about AI tools—they make you look better.

Kathleen: Yes—it’s about augmented intelligence, not just artificial intelligence. AI isn’t here to replace the human; it’s here to help them do their job better. Project managers are often expected to handle increasing workloads with fewer resources, and AI can help with that. If we don’t adopt these technologies, we’re just going to drown in work. Meeting minutes may take up 5 hours of our week. But we didn’t really get hired to do that, right?  So now it’s like having an assistant who takes care of the routine stuff so you can focus on what really matters.

If there’s one thing PMI members should take away about AI, what would it be?

Ron: The reality is that right now, people feel they have the luxury of making a decision on whether to use AI tools to help them. But in the not-too-distant future, if you’re not using AI tools, you’re going to be sidelined. You won’t be able to say “Oh, I’m working on these notes and it took me all day” when someone else will say “What are you talking about? It took me five minutes and I moved onto my next task.”

Kathleen: Agreed. Don’t think of AI as something you might ‘choose’ to learn. AI is here, and in a few years, if you’re not using it, you’re going to be left behind. You don’t want to be the person still spending a full day on tasks that could take others 30 minutes with AI. It’s time to get comfortable with these tools.

In a future where a lot of routine or technical tasks can be accomplished with AI quickly, what skills would you recommend project managers develop, aside from learning how to use AI and manage AI projects?

Ron: I mean, it’s kind of funny, but it’s all coming back to the soft skills—PMI aptly calls these power skills—which we didn’t really learn in school. What differentiates someone who’s getting a little bit of value from AI from someone who’s getting a lot of value from AI is not the tool—you’re both using the same tool.

Kathleen: What sets someone apart in using AI effectively is actually power skills—communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. AI is only as good as the input you give it, so learning how to ask the right questions and think critically about what you’re doing with AI will be crucial.

Ron and Kathleen, thanks for talking today! What should readers of this article do next?

Ron: Go read up on the seven patterns of AI. You can simplify your AI projects by understanding these patterns, which apply to all AI use cases.

Kathleen: And learn more about the CPMAI framework and certificationas well as listen to our AI Today podcast (now an official PMI podcast).

As AI becomes essential in project management, we’re committed to providing resources and certifications that meet the demands of this evolving field. Let’s step into an AI-driven future together—prepared, informed, and ready to lead AI projects to success.

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