How AI Is Reshaping the PM Craft: Insights from Three Product Leaders
Date: February 19, 2026 • Author: Second Axis • Category: Event Recap
We recently hosted a panel discussion at our Boston PMs in AI event, bringing together three product leaders with very different vantage points on how AI is reshaping the PM craft. The conversation was sharp, practical, and refreshingly honest. Here's what stood out.
The Panelists
Ali Nahvi, PhD — Director of AI/ML Product at Salesforce, where he builds and scales AI and agent-driven products that deliver measurable impact in seller workflows.
Shrutikirti Sharma — Product Manager at Pharos, a customer-first PM with hands-on experience shipping SaaS and mobile products, blending GenAI, UX, and analytics to drive better product decisions.
Michael Sattler — Founder of Sattler360, a product leader known for cutting through AI hype and rethinking what work products should eliminate — not just automate.
Finding Product-Market Fit in AI Means Doing Less, Not More
Michael challenged one of the most common instincts in product development: the urge to keep adding features. His argument was that achieving product-market fit with AI requires scoping down — being ruthlessly focused on the one thing your product needs to do exceptionally well, rather than layering on capabilities that dilute the value proposition. In a landscape where every product is racing to bolt on AI features, this was a timely reminder that restraint is a competitive advantage.
Prototyping Has Changed the Game
Shrutikirti shared how AI-powered prototyping tools have fundamentally accelerated her team's workflow. The ability to spin up realistic prototypes quickly means less time building throwaway mockups and more time doing what PMs should be doing — strategic thinking. When you can present a near-real concept to stakeholders in a fraction of the time, you free up space for the higher-order work: understanding the customer, shaping the roadmap, and making better bets.
Big Companies Can Move Fast Too
Ali pulled back the curtain on how Salesforce — a company of its scale — is adopting AI across the organization. What was particularly striking was his observation that PMs at Salesforce are now becoming coders themselves, using AI tools to prototype, test, and ship. For anyone who assumes large enterprises are slow to embrace change, Salesforce's pace of AI adoption was a compelling counterpoint. They're not just talking about AI — they're shipping it, fast.
The Takeaway
Across all three perspectives, a common thread emerged: AI isn't just changing what products can do — it's changing how product people work. Whether it's scoping down to find PMF, using prototyping to reclaim strategic time, or watching PMs pick up coding skills they never expected to need, the role is evolving in real time.
We're excited to keep this conversation going at future Boston PMs in AI events. If you're a PM navigating the AI landscape, come join us.