for Better Project Management
ADVISORY ARTICLE
By Steven Meltser
Vice President
PMO/Delivery Excellence-Experience
Genpact
Detroit, Michigan, USA
AI tools are quickly becoming standard in project management, and that’s making discernment and communication skills more important for project managers (PMs). From 2024 to 2025, the number of project managers using AI tools jumped from 36% to 70%, and almost all the rest said their companies are planning AI adoptions. This trend is good news if you’re a PM, team lead, or account manager, because AI can deliver such large efficiency gains.
However, while AI can synthesize data, summarize findings, and suggest next steps, it doesn’t know your clients or the information that’s most valuable to them. AI also doesn’t know your clients’ and internal teams’ communication styles. Without human validation and interpretation, AI-driven efficiency and autonomy increase risk, so the need to refine these skills is increasingly urgent. Faster processes increase PMs’ responsibility to trust but verify before discussing AI-generated results.
Communicating with stakeholders about AI outputs and AI-informed project phases will always require a strong human touch. Translating outputs and insights for a specific audience, and tailoring information to meet their unique needs, is a crucial skillset. Research by academics in the US, South Korea, and Austria on soft skills in the workplace found that along with critical thinking and complex problem solving, “as technical complexity rises, the glue that keeps talent productive is social skill — communication, empathy, conflict resolution, and the ability to coordinate diverse expertise.”
Filling the context gaps in AI tool results
Take meeting recordings and recaps as an example. AI tools automatically transcribe the conversation and assign statements to the correct speakers. They can also synthesize discussion notes and flag action items. What they lack is the additional context and connections that makes post-meeting communication clear and useful.
For instance, an AI-powered meeting recap might capture keywords from the conversation, but it won’t include keyword-related links to the items discussed during the meeting, such as a status report, sprint board, design system, or app. The PM can apply contextual knowledge to the recap to make it more useful for attendees. It’s also the PM’s responsibility to keep track of any post-meeting discussions of risk mitigation or other issues that took place out of “earshot” of the AI meeting assistant, to develop follow-up plans.
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How to cite this article: Meltser, S. (2026). Balancing AI and Human Judgment for Better Project Management, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue VII, July, Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/pmwj166-Jul2026-Meltser-Balancing-AI-and-Human-Judgment-2.pdf
About the Author
Steven Meltser
New York, USA
Steven Meltser is Vice President of PMO / Delivery Excellence- Experience at Genpact, bringing extensive experience leading consumer‑centric, digitally driven programs across design, technology, marketing, and operations. He has delivered integrated solutions for global brands such as General Motors, Kimberly‑Clark, Coca‑Cola, Microsoft, and more, across platforms including Microsoft, Sitecore, and others. His leadership focuses on cross‑functional team development, process definition, and driving organizational growth, with additional emphasis on AI and agentic solutions. Steven can be contacted at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenmeltser/.
About Genpact
Genpact (NYSE: G) is an agentic and advanced technology solutions company. We leverage process intelligence and artificial intelligence to deliver measurable outcomes. With a strong partner ecosystem and decades of client trust, we provide innovative solutions that transform how businesses run. Powered by a team with an active learning mindset and client centricity at its core, we deliver lasting value for the world’s leading enterprises.
