AI’s third era: the rise of persistent AI coworkers | Tara Seshan (OpenAI’s product lead)

Product management in the AI era requires a fundamental shift from academic, long-term planning to empirical, rapid-cycle testing. As models evolve, the role of the product manager is transitioning from manual execution to steering autonomous agents that act as persistent co-workers. Success depends on "mainlining" products—using them constantly to refine intuition—and maintaining a two-to-three-month development horizon to keep pace with rapid technological advancements. Rather than relying on static strategy documents, effective teams prioritize high-fidelity prototypes and rigorous hypothesis testing. This paradigm demands greater ambition, as AI tools expand the range of what individuals can execute, effectively turning knowledge workers into auteurs who steer agents to handle tactical tasks. Ultimately, the human element remains critical for setting vision, ensuring accountability, and fostering the collaborative spirit necessary to navigate this fast-changing technological landscape.