Every month I teach a Tech Term You Should Know (TTYSK) and a tech essay to level up your technical literacy and collaborate well with dev teams. Ask me anything and I'll cover it in an upcoming issue.

This issue's TTYSK is "Cache". Scroll to end to learn more 👇

Ever since 2023, when ChatGPT became the buzzword on everyone’s lips, AI has been everywhere. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, chances are you’ve noticed AI creeping into every corner of your work as a product manager. It’s in conversations, workflows, tools—it’s practically impossible to avoid.

But let’s be honest: the sheer volume of terms, tools, and opinions about AI can feel overwhelming. If you’re like me, you’ve probably felt some resistance at some point—whether it’s skepticism about the hype or fear of being left behind. Maybe you’ve even asked yourself:

“Do I need to learn to code now?”

“What if AI replaces my role entirely?”

If these questions sound familiar, take a deep breath. You’re not alone, and here’s the thing: AI isn’t here to take your job. It’s here to take the boring, repetitive parts of your job.

AI: Your New Executive Assistant

Imagine this: you’re a product manager with a jam-packed schedule. You’re juggling stakeholder meetings, product roadmaps, and user feedback while trying to stay creative and strategic. Now add AI into the mix—not as a replacement, but as an executive assistant that never gets tired.

AI steps in to handle the tedious, time-consuming tasks that can bog you down:

• Writing meeting notes and action items.

• Analyzing survey data to find trends.

• Organizing your backlog.

By letting AI take these tasks off your plate, you free up time to focus on what actually matters: making bold product decisions, deeply understanding your users, and driving outcomes that align with your company’s goals.

The PM Role: Then and Now

Let me tell you about two PMs who were recently tasked with creating a new customer dashboard.

Meet Sarah. She takes the traditional route:

• Sarah writes a lengthy PRD, painstakingly detailing her vision.

• She waits weeks for the design team to produce mockups, and even longer for engineering to build a prototype.

• When she finally gets a working version, it’s clear the solution doesn’t address all the user needs. Deadlines slip, and frustration mounts.

Now let’s talk about Alex. Alex approaches the same task, but with AI as her sidekick:

• To brainstorm and refine user stories, Alex uses ChatGPT to explore potential challenges and opportunities. This gives her clarity on user needs from the start.

• For prototyping, she creates an interactive mockup using Claude AI in just a few hours, bypassing weeks of back-and-forth with design.

• With Miro’s AI, Alex quickly maps user flows, ensuring her prototype aligns seamlessly with the broader user journey.

• And for polished visuals, Alex uses AI-enhanced design tools to create stunning mockups that stakeholders can instantly understand.

By the time Alex presents her dashboard to stakeholders, it’s not an abstract idea on paper—it’s a tangible, interactive solution. The team is aligned, feedback is clear, and timelines are on track.

Ready to Dive In? Start Small

If diving into AI feels overwhelming, don’t worry. You don’t need to overhaul your workflow overnight. Here’s how to ease into it:

1️⃣ Pick one task to improve. Look for something repetitive in your workflow. Maybe it’s summarizing meeting notes, organizing backlogs, or analyzing survey responses.

2️⃣ Try one tool. Choose something simple and user-friendly. For instance, use an AI assistant like Otter.ai to generate interview summaries or draft product updates. You don’t need to master the tool—just see how it lightens your load.

3️⃣ Learn together. Ask colleagues how they’re using AI, or join workshops and communities to explore its potential alongside others. The best insights often come from shared experiences.

Every small experiment moves you closer to becoming an AI-empowered PM.

A New Era for Product Management

AI isn’t replacing product managers. It’s reshaping the role into something more dynamic, creative, and impactful.

As an AI-enabled PM, you’re not just coordinating tasks—you’re driving innovation. You’re moving faster, validating ideas sooner, and delivering products that make a real difference.

The best part? You don’t need to be an engineer or an AI expert to start. All it takes is curiosity and a willingness to experiment.

👉 📬 Reply to this email for more content on how to be a technical leader as a product manager.

💡 Tech Term You Should Know (TTYSK)

Cache

A cache is a temporary storage space that stores frequently accessed data so it can be retrieved faster. Instead of asking the server for information, a cache stores the data closer to the user—like in their browser or device—so it loads quickly when needed. It’s “temporary” because cached data eventually expires to make sure users get the most up-to-date information.

Let’s look at a practical example of client-side caching, one of the most user-focused types of caching:

1. Without Cache: Every time a user visits your product’s webpage, their browser sends a request to the server to fetch the data. This can take time (~500ms) because the request travels back and forth between the user’s device and the server.

2. With Cache: The browser checks its local cache first to see if the data is already stored. If it is, the page loads instantly (~50ms) without contacting the server. This makes the experience seamless, faster, and more responsive.