As a PM working with AI, you don't need to execute every step of the data science lifecycle, but you must understand it. As shown in Figure 4-1, this lifecycle is the roadmap for building and deploying AI models, from initial idea to ongoing maintenance. Knowing this process allows you to:
Collaborate Effectively: Work effectively with your data science and engineering teams.
Set Realistic Expectations: Understand the time, resources, and data required for each stage.
Prioritize Features: Make informed decisions about which AI features to prioritize based on feasibility and impact.
Manage Risks: Identify potential roadblocks and mitigate them early.
Ensure Alignment: Keep the AI development aligned with overall product strategy and user needs.
Think of the data science lifecycle as a structured recipe for creating AI-powered solutions. Each step is critical for a successful outcome.
Figure 4-1: The AI lifecycle
This chapter presents a breakdown of the key stages, with a focus on the PM's perspective.
Problem Definition and Business Understanding: The “Why”
This is where you, the PM, play a critical role. You define the “why” behind the AI initiative. This involves:
Identifying the User Problem: What user needs are we addressing?
Defining the Business Goal: How will solving this problem benefit the business (e.g., increase revenue, reduce costs, ...
Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month, and much more.
O’Reilly covers everything we've got, with content to help us build a world-class technology community, upgrade the capabilities and competencies of our teams, and improve overall team performance as well as their engagement.
Julian F.
Head of Cybersecurity
I wanted to learn C and C++, but it didn't click for me until I picked up an O'Reilly book. When I went on the O’Reilly platform, I was astonished to find all the books there, plus live events and sandboxes so you could play around with the technology.
Addison B.
Field Engineer
I’ve been on the O’Reilly platform for more than eight years. I use a couple of learning platforms, but I'm on O'Reilly more than anybody else. When you're there, you start learning. I'm never disappointed.
Amir M.
Data Platform Tech Lead
I'm always learning. So when I got on to O'Reilly, I was like a kid in a candy store. There are playlists. There are answers. There's on-demand training. It's worth its weight in gold, in terms of what it allows me to do.
O’Reilly covers everything we've got, with content to help us build a world-class technology community, upgrade the capabilities and competencies of our teams, and improve overall team performance as well as their engagement.
