BECOMING AN AI PAYMENTS PM · SERIES

2026-05-22 · Source: Artificial Intelligence on Medium · Field: Technology & Digital — Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Project & Product Management · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

Shivputra, a Product Manager specializing in online receivables with zero prior AI experience, is embarking on a live blog series to develop "proof of work" in AI. Motivated by concerns about job displacement due to AI's rapid integration into daily life and professional workflows by May 2026, he aims to build an actual AI product from scratch. This initiative is inspired by Razorpay CEO Harshil Mathur's emphasis on hiring individuals with deep AI fluency and demonstrable AI products. Shivputra, who has a background in full-stack digital payment platforms and RBI-authorised Payment Aggregators, seeks to transition from a traditional payments PM role. He explicitly distinguishes between a "Payments AI PM" (integrating existing AI features) and an "AI Payments PM" (focusing on deep technical infrastructure and ML research), committing to the more challenging latter path.

Key takeaway

For Product Managers in payments or similar domains concerned about AI-driven job displacement, actively developing deep AI fluency and demonstrable "proof of work" is crucial. Your existing domain expertise, like in online receivables, provides a vital foundation. Focus on becoming an "AI Payments PM" by engaging with technical infrastructure and ML research, rather than merely integrating existing AI features. Start building and documenting your own AI products to validate your skills and secure future roles.

Key insights

A payments PM is documenting their journey to acquire deep AI product development skills and "proof of work" to adapt to AI's impact.

Principles

• "Proof of work" is critical for AI roles.
• AI Payments PMs focus on deep tech.
• Payments AI PMs integrate existing AI.

Method

The author's method involves building an actual AI product from scratch, documenting the live experience in a blog series, and seeking collaboration to achieve "proof of work" for an AI role.

In practice

• Build an AI product from scratch.
• Document your learning journey publicly.
• Seek feedback and collaboration.

Topics

• AI Product Management
• Payments Industry
• Career Transition
• Proof of Work
• Machine Learning Research
• Digital Payments

Best for: AI Product Manager, Product Manager, Entrepreneur

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Artificial Intelligence on Medium.