Special Episode: Paige Costello on AI in Product Management – a Co-Production from Crafted.FM and Beyond the Prompt

In this special episode, we start with an insightful interview from Crafted, where Dan Blumberg and Paige Costello, Head of AI at Asana, dive into how AI-driven tools like status reports and bug triaging are transforming work by removing tedious tasks and sparking creativity. They also explore how AI is reshaping team structures and the evolving role of product managers. 
Afterward, Jeremy and Henrik continue with Paige to take a closer look at the hands-on development of AI, discussing the unpredictable nature of user interactions and why clear evaluation processes are essential. Paige offers behind-the-scenes insights on user testing, model selection, and finding the right balance between control and flexibility in deploying AI. Real-life examples, like Asana’s use of AI-powered status reports, customizable workflows, and transparency practices, showcase how these tools can boost productivity, streamline workflows, and fuel innovation. 
Tune in for practical takeaways on harnessing AI to reshape how we work, and a look at how these advances could redefine roles and team dynamics in the future.

Key Takeaways:

• Experiment with AI-powered tools – Asana’s AI features, like status reports, help teams cut down on repetitive tasks and unlock creative potential.
• The product manager’s role is evolving – With AI, product managers are shifting focus toward strategic thinking and deep customer insights.
• Maintain a balance – While AI automates many tasks, human judgment remains essential for accurate project oversight.
• Specialized teams boost AI impact – Asana’s approach shows that dedicated AI teams can set the foundation for organization-wide adoption.

For more episodes from Crafted, visit crafted.fm and be sure to subscribe to Crafted on your favorite podcast app for more insights on product innovation.

00:00 Special episode intro
00:01 Crafted: Paige Costello, Head of AI at Asana
00:36 AI in Action at Asana
01:52 Challenges in AI implementation
05:01 Structuring teams for AI
08:55 AI's role in product management
14:15 Prototyping and scaling AI
15:56 Internal AI uses at Asana
18:06 AI's impact on workflows
20:32 Future skills and job roles
22:52 Customer interaction importance
25:22 PageBot and AI assistants
26:56 AI in organizational challenges
27:43 Unexpected skills in AI
29:17 Beyond the Prompt: Paige Costello
29:29 Transparency and AI in teams
34:33 Building AI products
39:10 Legal and organizational aspects
44:47 AI boosting productivity
50:23 AI's impact across industries

📜 Read the transcript for this episode: Transcript of Special Episode: Paige Costello on AI in Product Management – a Co-Production from Crafted.FM and Beyond the Prompt |

For more prompts, tips, and AI tools. Check out our website: https://www.beyondtheprompt.ai/ or follow Jeremy or Henrik on Linkedin:

Henrik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/werdelin
Jeremy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyutley

Show edited by Emma Cecilie Jensen.