Tech investor Keith Rabois believes AI era makes product manager role obsolete

Keith Rabois believes one of the crucial roles in tech is nearing its end.

During the recent episode of "Lenny's Podcast," Khosla Ventures' Managing Director and former executive of PayPal and Square explained that artificial intelligence is advancing so rapidly that the product manager role, or PM, "won't make sense" going forward.

He pointed out that AI technologies, such as Lovable, are advancing swiftly, leaving roles centered around coordination and long-range plans less essential. These are fundamental to the product manager position, he noted.

A number of AI startups like Lovable, Cursor, and Replit have launched "vibe coding" tools that allow users to develop websites and applications through simple commands — reducing the need for large, cohesive teams and lowering entry barriers for building products.

"The speed at which the foundational models or firms like Lovable progress renders long-term roadmaps obsolete," said Rabois.

"Things that were unachievable in November are remarkably easy by March," he continued.

In this context, the traditional project manager role — gathering client feedback, uniting teams, and outlining long-term strategies — appears outdated, Rabois explained.

This shift necessitates a rethink for organisations in team structuring. Rather than multiple coordination layers, thriving organisations will be adept at seizing new opportunities and implementing changes in real-time, he added.

"The future of fast-growing, excellent startups will involve realizing new possibilities each week and delivering new customer value by the next week."