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

The evolution of AI product management demands a shift from theoretical, long-form planning to empirical, rapid-iteration cycles. Tara Seshan, product lead at OpenAI, highlights that successful AI development requires building for model capabilities two to three months out rather than current or year-long horizons. The role of the product manager has evolved into "steering" rather than "rowing," where human intuition and opinionated product design remain essential differentiators in a world of ubiquitous AI tools. Furthermore, the "mainlining" of AI—integrating agents into daily workflows—is critical for identifying product-market fit. By treating software development as an auteur-driven process similar to filmmaking, teams can leverage AI to dramatically elevate their ambitions, transforming previously impossible tasks into reachable, high-fidelity realities.