What’s the Big Deal About Generative AI for Project Managers?

Not to sound like a Seinfeld episode, but…what’s the big deal with generative AI?!

It’s not that generative AI tools like ChatGPT aren’t a big deal, of course. They’ve swooped onto the scene quite quickly and proven their potential to disrupt industries, replace jobs, and create more personalized online experiences. In fact, earlier this year ChatGPT set the record for the fastest-growing web platform ever — racking up 100 million monthly active users in just two months. And McKinsey predicts that generative AI could contribute trillions of dollars in value to the global economy.

So, yes, generative AI is a big deal. But the question now is: What does that mean for project managers? And do the benefits of these new, generative tools mean that we’ll be seeing more AI-driven workplaces going forward?

Let’s take a look.

Faster, automated results

One of the biggest benefits of AI is that it can automate manual or time-consuming processes and deliver results on the fly. For project managers, this might mean automatically getting a clarified, updated view of your entire portfolio in a snap.

Here’s how Harvard Business Review said this might play out with AI: “Sometime in the near future, the CEO of a large telecom provider is using a smartphone app to check on her organization’s seven strategic initiatives. Within a few taps, she knows the status of every project and what percentage of expected benefits each one has delivered.”

The good news? This kind of capability already exists. You just need an adaptive project management platform to access it. Proggio, for example, provides cross-portfolio visibility at a glance, so you can get a clear, bird’s-eye-view of your every project in one place:

Optimized risk assessment and efficiency

Paul Veitch, managing director at Accenture, wrote: “Generative AI can help project managers identify potential risks by analyzing historical project data and providing insights into common pitfalls and challenges. By understanding these risks, project managers can take proactive measures to mitigate them, resulting in more successful project outcomes.”

Yes, AI can definitely help streamline these processes and improve outcomes. But again, PMs don’t have to wait to access these capabilities. Adaptive platforms like Proggio already provide the tools to instantly identify and categorize potential project risks by low, medium, high, or critical risk levels. This way, project managers can update their risk matrices as needed and focus their attention on the most pressing matters.

Real-time project reporting

Harvard Business Review also posits that AI and machine learning tools will help project managers generate “automated reporting that is not only produced with less labor but will replace today’s reports — which are often weeks old — with real-time data. These tools will also drill deeper than is currently possible, displaying project status, benefits achieved, potential slippage, and team sentiment in a clear, objective way.”

That’s where existing tools like Custom Dynamic Views can help. With this capability, project managers can automatically create and share real-time project reports with shareholders, vendors, and collaborators — no outdated Gantt charts or spreadsheets needed. Instead, they can easily maintain alignment across teams and save time scheduling unnecessary meetings and check-ins.

Of course, it will be exciting to see how generative AI tools continue to impact project management processes and outcomes. But it’s important to remember that many of their offerings aren’t entirely new. In fact, PMs can start automating, improving, and streamlining results right now with an adaptive PPM solution like Proggio.

Ready to see how it works for yourself? Book a demo today.