Product Requirements Documents Undergo Strategic Transformation in AI Era, Says Aakash Gupta

Product Requirements Documents (PRDs), long a cornerstone of product development, are undergoing a significant transformation in the age of Artificial Intelligence, shifting from exhaustive specifications to leaner, more strategic tools. This evolution, rather than obsolescence, is a key insight shared by prominent product leader Aakash Gupta, known as "The Product Growth Guy" and a former VP of Product at companies like Apollo and Affirm.

In a recent social media post, Gupta stated, > "AI killed the 10 page PRD. But the PRD isn't dead." This highlights a critical pivot in how product teams approach documentation. While traditional PRDs often became lengthy and static, the integration of AI necessitates a more agile and focused approach. The new paradigm emphasizes alignment and strategic clarity over detailed, often quickly outdated, functional specifications.

Gupta, who has collaborated with OpenAI Product Lead Miqdad Jaffer on the subject, argues that despite the rise of "build-first" cultures and AI's prototyping capabilities, PRDs remain indispensable. He emphasizes that prototypes alone cannot address crucial aspects such as the underlying hypothesis, strategic fit within the broader business context, non-goals, potential side effects, or the metrics for success. These elements are vital for human alignment and decision-making.

The modern PRD, according to Gupta, is a "living, breathing strategic tool" that evolves with understanding. It moves beyond merely defining "what to build" to deeply exploring "why it matters." This shift encourages product managers to focus on problem validation and market context, preventing the development of "technically impressive solutions to problems that don’t matter." AI tools can even assist in drafting these lighter PRDs, streamlining the process and allowing product managers to dedicate more time to strategic thinking.

This redefinition underscores a broader industry trend where product management becomes increasingly strategic. The emphasis is now on clear communication of intent, expected behavior, and potential failure modes, ensuring that product teams are aligned on the core purpose and desired outcomes before committing extensive resources to development.