If I want to be an AI Product Manager?

As a complete beginner in the AI field, even though I have some coding experience, if I want to work in this area, I will likely need the following skills.

. Learn Basic AI Knowledge
You don’t need to code neural networks, but you should grasp the big concepts — machine learning, neural nets, natural language processing, and generative AI. Understanding “training data” is especially key. Also, study the product management playbook — user stories, roadmaps, and prioritization frameworks.

1. Pick Up Light Tech Skills Familiarize yourself with tools AI teams use: project tracking software, SQL for data, or even basic Python. You won’t build models, but you’ll need to talk to people who do. Play with AI tools yourself — ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Grok, or whatever’s out there — to get a feel for what’s possible and where they fall short.
2. Build Domain Knowledge Pick an industry you’re interested in — like healthcare, gaming, or finance — and learn its pain points. AI product managers often specialize, so knowing the lingo and challenges helps. Then, follow AI news and read up on what companies like xAI, OpenAI, or Google are launching. What’s trending this month? Check posts or articles from the past few months.
3. Get Hands-On Experience Projects: Build something small. Mock up an AI product idea, define its features, and sketch a roadmap. Side Gigs: Volunteer or intern with a startup. Even non-AI product management experience counts. Network: Attend AI meetups or X Spaces where PMs and AI folks gather. Ask questions and soak up wisdom.
4. Certifications (Optional) Plenty of courses teach AI product management skills, and earning a certificate can boost your credentials.
5. Sharpen Soft Skills
6. Communication: You’ll translate geek-speak for execs and vice versa. Practice explaining AI concepts simply — like I’m doing here.
7. Problem-Solving: AI is messy — models fail, data’s dirty, and users are picky. Practice breaking big problems into manageable steps.
8. Ethics: Understand bias, fairness, and transparency. PMs are increasingly accountable for these issues.

I believe that "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. "

Start small, ship something, and iterate — like an AI model training itself.