Will AI Make the TPM Role Obsolete?

Will AI make TPM role obsolete?

It started with a familiar Monday morning ritual: coffee in hand, Jira board open, Slack notifications popping up one after another. As a Technical Program Manager (TPM), I was prepping for the sprint planning meeting. But this time, something felt different.

I had just seen a demo of an AI tool that could analyze roadmaps, auto-update schedules based on resource capacity, and even write summary notes for executive updates. This was not a dream. It was real, powerful, and already being used. I am sure many of you like me are wondering if a tool could do all of this, where do I fit in?

We’re in the middle of one of the biggest transformations in how we work. Artificial Intelligence has become a real co-pilot in product development, engineering coordination, and even stakeholder communication. And for those of us in technical program management, it raises a valid, sometimes uncomfortable question: Will AI make the TPM role obsolete?

What are some of the TPM activities AI can help with?

Traditionally, TPMs wear many hats: planners, coordinators, risk managers, and sometimes, peacekeepers between different teams. We translate high-level goals into actionable work, ensure dependencies are addressed, and bring predictability to chaos.

But today’s AI tools are learning to handle tasks that were once squarely in the TPM’s domain:

• Task and timeline management: Tools like ClickUp AI or Linear auto-prioritize tasks based on team velocity and historical data.

• Automated status reporting: Notion AI, Microsoft Copilot, and ChatGPT can now generate weekly updates by scanning activity across tools.

• Meeting summarization: Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai, Copilot turn conversations into action items within seconds.

• Risk prediction: AI models are learning to detect scope creep or missed handoffs faster than most humans.

Suddenly, what took hours of careful coordination can be generated or flagged in minutes. This will free up some of the TPM capacity.

So, Will the TPM Role Go Away?

I personally don’t think that the TPM role would totally disappear—but it will evolve.

The core of technical program management isn’t just about tools or checklists. It’s about judgment, empathy, context, and leadership. Those are deeply human skills.

AI is incredibly good at spotting patterns, surfacing anomalies, and providing suggestions. But it still lacks the ability to:

• Read between the lines of team dynamics

• Facilitate tough conversations around trade-offs

• Advocate for one roadmap path over another, grounded in company context

• Know when to hold firm on a scope and when to be flexible

• Earn trust across cross-functional teams

In short, AI can augment TPMs—but it can’t replace the essence of what makes a great TPM: a connector of people, purpose, and progress.

What will change with AI?

As AI becomes more integrated into the workplace, the responsibilities of a Technical Program Manager is beginning to shift. While the core purpose of a TPM—driving alignment, clarity, and execution—remains, the way those responsibilities are carried out is evolving rapidly. Here is a breakdown of how AI would be an enabler for different TPM responsibilities.

Aspect	Classic TPM role	AI enabled TPM role	How AI helps
Task & Timeline Management	Manually tracks deliverables and deadlines using spreadsheets or PM tools like MS Project	Uses AI to auto-prioritize tasks and update timelines dynamically	Tools like Jira Assist, Linear, and ClickUp AI predict delays, adjust schedules, and assign tasks
Status Reporting	Gathers updates from multiple teams and writes weekly reports	Auto-generates real-time summaries and dashboards	ChatGPT, Notion AI, and Microsoft Copilot draft updates and stakeholder briefs
Dependency Tracking	Relies on meetings and manual mapping to identify dependencies	AI scans systems and flags critical cross-team dependencies early	AI plugins in Jira or Confluence can auto-detect and suggest resolutions
Meeting Facilitation & Notes	Schedules, runs meetings, takes notes, and follows up manually	AI schedules meetings, captures action items, and sends recaps	Toolslike Otter.ai and Fireflies.aitranscribe and summarize meetings instantly
Risk Management	Identifies risks through experience and conversations	AI models surface hidden risks through data trends	AI can detect scope creep, performance drops, or missed handoffs early
Communication & Stakeholder Alignment	Manages alignment through 1:1s, docs, and long email threads	Uses AI-generated briefs, visual summaries, and live dashboards	Notion AI, Whimsical, and AI pitch tools help in rapid, clear communication
Documentation & Planning	Writes charters, roadmaps, and PRDs from scratch	Generates drafts from high-level prompts or bullet points	Notion AI, ClickUp AI, and ChatGPT speed up initial drafts

 What AI Can’t Do (And Likely Never Will) ?

• Sense the morale drop in a team after a reorg

• Catch the tension between two senior members before it blows up

• Advocate for including all the teams required for planning process

• Have a hallway conversation that rebuilds trust after a failed launch

• Speak to the customer as needed and keep ensuring her/him that customer service is our prime focus

These are the moments where a human TPM makes all the difference. AI may optimize tasks—but people trust people. Especially during uncertainty.

How should TPMs stay relevant in the current scenario?

Now let’s be real—there are risks.

If your day-to-day revolves around reporting, documentation, and admin-heavy work, AI will absolutely encroach. The message is clear: TPMs must evolve beyond playing the coordinator role.

Here’s how to future-proof yourself:

1. Deepen technical fluency: You don’t have to code, but you must understand architecture, APIs, microservices, data flows. AI can’t substitute your ability to ask the right engineering questions.

2. Be product-aware: Understand customer problems and business goals. TPMs who can connect engineering execution to user outcomes will always be valued.

3. Get comfortable with AI tools: Don’t fight the tide. Experiment with AI-powered tools like Asana AI, ChatGPT for meeting prep, or Jira Assist. Learn to prompt well.

4. Build influence, not just process: TPMs who drive alignment through influence and narrative will always be needed.

 A Personal Note to Fellow TPMs

I know the pride you take in bringing order to chaos. The satisfaction of seeing a multi-quarter initiative ship on time. The frustration of being underestimated—and the thrill of being the glue that holds it together.

You’re not obsolete. You’re needed more than ever—as long as you’re willing to grow.

AI doesn’t eliminate the need for TPMs. It amplifies the need for TPMs who are curious, adaptable, and bold enough to lead the next chapter.

Let’s not resist the shift. Let’s shape it.

If AI is your co-pilot, what will you do with the time it frees up?

That’s the question that will define the next generation of TPMs—not whether we’re needed, but how we choose to lead in a world where the tools keep getting smarter.

And here’s the good news: empathy, clarity, and leadership? They never go out of style.