Don't Let GenAI FOMO Derail Your Product Focus
By Phil Faust, Founder at Faust Forward
It seems like every week, a new list drops: “The 100 Best GenAI Tools for Product Managers.” (ok, I haven't seen 100 yet, but I did just come across one title, “The 30 best AI tools for Product Managers”, 30, really?) And every week, it becomes easier for teams to get pulled off course chasing the next productivity hack or AI-powered edge.
Yes, product managers should absolutely stay informed about the latest technologies that can help them move faster and think smarter. But here’s the truth: your job hasn’t fundamentally changed just because GenAI arrived on the scene.
The Role Hasn't Changed, The Noise Has Increased
Product management is still about solving the right customer problems, in the right market, in ways that drive business outcomes. No tool replaces the core work of discovery, prioritization, cross-functional alignment, and delivery. AI can accelerate that work—but it can’t define it for you.
We’re seeing a burst of innovation in the GenAI ecosystem, especially around specialized tools for everything from writing user stories to mapping product strategy. But this wave won’t last forever. Eventually, the most useful capabilities will consolidate into platforms, while the niche tools either fold or get absorbed.
Use the Right Tool for the Job—Not Every Tool for Every Job
It’s tempting to think you're falling behind if you're not trying every new tool in the stack. But chasing breadth over depth just creates distraction. Product leaders need to evaluate AI tools the same way they’d evaluate any feature:
What real problem does this solve?
Is this a 10x improvement over what we're doing now?
How much time will it take to adopt and integrate?
What’s the opportunity cost of trying this?
Spending hours testing 30 AI tools doesn’t make you innovative; it just makes you busy.
Focus Where It Matters
If your team is spending more time experimenting with GenAI than talking to customers, analyzing your market, or delivering product value, you're off track. The best AI tools should disappear into your workflow, not dominate it. They should accelerate your understanding of customer needs, help synthesize insights, or free up time for high-leverage thinking.
But they should never replace the fundamentals of good product management: deep customer empathy, sharp prioritization, and a clear line of sight to outcomes.
A Smarter Way Forward
Here’s a better approach:
Stay aware of what's emerging in the AI space.
Test selectively: pilot 1 or 2 tools that clearly align with your current goals.
Standardize fast: if it works, integrate it. If not, move on.
Don’t confuse exploration with execution.
At Faust Forward, we help product teams navigate exactly these kinds of strategic questions, keeping focus on what matters most, while staying adaptive to the right kind of change.
GenAI isn’t a strategy. It’s a set of tools. Don’t lose the plot chasing the toolbox.
