AI Evals Emerge as Critical Skill for Product Managers by 2025, According to OpenAI CPO

A significant shift in the product management landscape is underway, with AI evaluations (Evals) rapidly becoming a core competency for Product Managers (PMs). This insight was recently highlighted in a tweet by AI Product Management influencer Aakash Gupta, who quoted OpenAI CPO Kevin Weil on the growing importance of this skill. The statement underscores the profound impact of artificial intelligence on traditional product development roles, signaling a need for PMs to adapt quickly.

AI evaluations are systematic, data-driven processes designed to measure the performance, accuracy, and reliability of AI systems. Unlike traditional software testing, AI Evals go beyond simple pass/fail metrics to assess how AI features perform under real-world conditions, deliver user value, and align with broader product goals. This involves understanding the nuances of AI outputs, which can be non-deterministic and prone to issues like hallucination or bias.

The necessity of mastering AI Evals stems from the inherent complexities of AI-powered products. As Aakash Gupta noted in his tweet, "> OpenAI CPO: Evals are becoming a core skill for PMs. PM in 2025 is changing fast." AI systems do not behave like conventional software; their performance can degrade over time with new data or user behavior, making continuous evaluation critical. Robust Evals help PMs establish performance benchmarks, monitor feature efficacy, and identify areas for ongoing improvement.

This evolving requirement means Product Managers must develop new skills to bridge the gap between technical AI capabilities and user experience. Effective AI Evals involve defining clear objectives, establishing relevant criteria and metrics, and collaborating with cross-functional teams including data scientists, UX researchers, and legal experts. This comprehensive approach ensures that AI products are not only technically sound but also ethical, trustworthy, and impactful for users and the business.

Aakash Gupta, known for his insights into AI product growth and career development, frequently emphasizes the need for PMs to embrace these new challenges. His platform serves to educate product professionals on emerging skills like AI Evals, AI PRDs, and AI Strategy. The consensus among industry leaders and educators is that proficiency in AI evaluations will be a defining factor for successful product leadership in the rapidly advancing AI-driven market of 2025 and beyond.