in the Age of AI Technology?
ADVISORY ARTICLE
By William A. Moylan, PhD, PMP, FESD, DTM
Professor Emeritus
Eastern Michigan University, USA
Is a Project Manager Necessary in the Age of AI Technology? Intriguing question. In particular, when it hits very close to one’s self worth, livelihood, and professional value. The AI Robot may be more efficient at certain activities and tasks [although routine and rather boring] than any human. However, the humanoid Project Manager [PM] provides the savant skills, savvy persuasion and sage advice critical to working with the building blocks of teams – people, which makes all projects work. The essential human aptitudes and competencies that AI cannot replace yet [as of the publication of this article] include creativity, critical thinking, ethical decision making, and human interaction.
The Irreplaceable Human PM
Four human skills that require real intelligence form the arsenal of the PM. These four irreplaceable people-tools are discussed herein.
Creativity. The purpose of a Project is to “…create a unique product, service or result” (PMI, 2025). This requires the PM to lead their Team to develop innovative solutions, solve problems that did not previously exist [uniqueness], and make executive-level decisions. These brain-based actions all require human insight, adaptability and confidence (Vichkanova, 2025). Creativity demands the PM to think outside the box, which is something an AI bot cannot do.
Critical Thinking. The PM, above all else, must think. Critical Thinking, a unique human skill, involves several distinct human capabilities such as emotional intelligence and deep contextual understanding. While AI can be a powerful tool to assist the PM and their team by processing information, the human PM and their Teammates must still perform the Critical Thinking itself, including questioning assumptions, evaluating evidence, and forming independent judgments (Harkness, 2024). Critical Thinking consumes a large portion of the PM’s working day, which cannot be delegated to the AI bot.
Ethical Decision Making. PMI’s “Ethical Decision-Making Framework” (EDMF) is a five-step process designed to help PMs and their Teams handle ethical dilemmas through critical thinking. The steps (PMI, 2025) are:
1) Assess the situation and gather facts,
2) Consider and evaluate alternative choices,
3) Analyze the potential consequences of the best choice,
4) Apply the PMI ethical principles (responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty), and
5) Make a decision and take action.
The EDMF serves as a guide to supplement the PMI Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. AI may help augment the EDMF process, such as, the facts gathering in step 1. However, the human PM and their Team are essential for executing the bulk of the critical project items, especially applying the PMI ethical principles of responsibility, respect, fairness, and honesty (PMI, 2025). Moreover, ethical oversight is the sole providence of the human soul of all projects – the PM. PMs are responsible for ensuring the responsible and ethical use of AI, including managing potential bias and data privacy concerns (Vichkanova, 2025).
More…
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How to cite this article: Moylan, W. (2026). Is a Project Manager Necessary in the Age of AI Technology? advisory article, PM World Journal, Vol. XV, Issue II, February. Available online at https://pmworldjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/pmwj161-Feb2026-Moylan-Is-a-project-manager-nessary.pdf
About the Author
William A. Moylan, PhD
Ypsilanti, Michigan
William A. Moylan, PhD, PMP, FESD, DTM, is a Professor Emeritus with Eastern Michigan University – College of Engineering & Technology. He has extensive professional experience in all aspects of program and project management, including over eleven years internationally with the Saudi Arabian American Oil Co, and since 1983, has been involved in implementing information technology. He has degrees from Lawrence Technological University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Capella University. He is s active in a variety of professional societies and civic activities including American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineering Society of Detroit, Project Management Institute, Habitat for Humanity, and Toastmasters International. He can be contacted at William.moylan@emich.edu
