Why half of product managers are in trouble | Nikhyl Singhal (Meta, Google)

2026-04-12 · Source: Lenny's Newsletter · Field: Business & Management — Project & Product Management, Corporate Strategy & Leadership, Human Resources & Workforce Development · Depth: Intermediate, extended

Summary

Nikhyl Singhal, a former executive at Meta and Google and CPO at Credit Karma, discusses the dramatic shift in the product management landscape, predicting a "renaissance for builders" but also "massive shedding of staffs and then massive rehiring" in the next 12 to 24 months. He notes that while the number of open PM roles globally is at a three-year high, the demand is for "AI first" builders who love creating and can drive judgment, rather than "information movers." Singhal emphasizes that product managers must embrace continuous reinvention, as the skills valued are rapidly changing, and those who do not adapt risk becoming obsolete. He highlights the exhaustion and stress within the industry due to constant change but also the increased joy for those who are actively building and leveraging new AI tools.

Key takeaway

For product managers navigating this rapidly evolving landscape, you must prioritize continuous skill reinvention and actively engage with AI tools to become a "builder." Focus on developing your judgment and hands-on creation abilities, as these are becoming paramount. Embrace the initial discomfort of change to find joy in building, which will ultimately enhance your career relevance and satisfaction, even if it means taking on different types of roles or responsibilities.

Key insights

Product management is undergoing a chaotic but joyful renaissance, demanding builders and continuous reinvention over information movers.

Principles

• Embrace continuous reinvention to stay relevant.
• Prioritize building and hands-on creation.
• Focus on judgment as mechanical tasks are automated.

Method

Product managers should identify and automate non-joyful, repetitive tasks using AI tools, fostering an "engineering mindset" to obsolete themselves from routine work and increase efficiency within product organizations.

In practice

• Experiment with AI tools to automate daily tasks.
• Build internal tools to improve product decisioning.
• Seek opportunities to be hands-on and build.

Topics

• Product Management Evolution
• AI-First Builders
• PM Reinvention
• Judgment Skills
• Product Operating System

Best for: Director of AI/ML, AI Product Manager, Entrepreneur

Related on AIssential

• The Business Engineer in the Era of AI — The Product Manager role is forking into a "Builder-PM" focused on future AI capabilities within autonomous, taste-driven cells.
• Essential books for product builders—part 1 — The lasting impact of well-distilled knowledge in books surpasses fleeting online content for professional development.
• 🧠 Community Wisdom: How AI is changing product operating models, tracking work stress with Whoop, whether you need a portfolio of AI side projects, marketing for tiny teams, and more — Holistic product development, driven by human judgment and deep customer understanding, remains paramount in the AI era.
• I Can’t Keep Up With AI. That’s Not the Problem I Thought It Was. — The rapid pace of AI tool development renders traditional deep skill mastery obsolete for designers.
• From Technical IC To Product Manager: An Evidence-Based Approach — Technical ICs can transition to AI Product Management by proactively engaging in PM work and building AI monetization fluency.
• When AI started writing PRDs, I re-understood the value of PM. — AI automates output, elevating the value of human conscious thought, judgment, and contextual understanding in product management.

Open in AIssential →

Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Lenny's Newsletter.