AI Is Here, But the Human Edge Still Drives PMO Success
| by Carrie Capili
What challenges have AI-supported practices brought to your organization?
We’ve been discussing the results of The State of the PMO 2025 Research Reportwith our PM Solutions team throughout the past few weeks. We’re pulling apart the data and discussing what it really means to our clients and how it can influence what’s to come as PMOs drive toward success. We’re focused on helping organizations apply the best practices we’ve uncovered in the report now so they can begin to see results in 2025.
In each conversation we’ve had, someone brings up the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) in project management. In The State of the PMO 2025, we introduced questions on the topic of AI in the hopes of bringing real data to these discussions so that organizations can move forward with their initiatives without guesswork.
Here is a snapshot of what we found:
- More than 36% of organizations with PMOs use AI-supported practices to help them meet their goals.
- A majority of high-performing PMOs (61%) use AI-supported practices to help them meet their goals.
- The percentage of PMOs that use AI-supported practices correlates with the size of the organization: small (40%), mid-size (38%), large (30%).
- AI is used to a great extent (3.4) to help facilitate communications.
The reality of what we’re seeing is that traditional project management training will need to become more sophisticated to keep pace with the development of AI tools for project management. However, our clients have told us time and again that they need project managers who have:
- Superior knowledge of their industry,
- Top-tier communication skills,
- The ability to think strategically, and
- A knack for working with others to resolve difficult issues.
These are skills not inherently found in AI. What we’re hearing is that AI tools can be delegated to effectively streamline time-consuming processes, but they cannot grasp complex, dynamic, interpersonal skills. Let’s call those set of skills the “art” of project management.
The good news coming from this data is that the art of project management shows a strong correlation with improved organizational performance. The use of AI-supported practices is also showing a strong correlation with improved organizational performance. Thus, combining the art of project management with well-guided and intentional AI-supported practices can make a large organizational impact. AI is here to stay, but the human edge is what drives PMO success.
To continue our discussion on AI and project management, we’d like your feedback!
Let us know:
- What challenges have AI-supported practices brought to your organization?
- What benefits have you seen from the adoption of AI-supported practices?
FAQs
How is AI being used in project management?
AI is being used in project management to automate repetitive tasks, improve communication, analyze project data, and support planning and reporting. Common uses include drafting project updates, summarizing meetings, creating schedules, generating status reports, and identifying potential project risks.
By handling administrative work, AI allows project managers to focus more on leadership, strategic decision-making, and stakeholder engagement.
Can AI replace project managers?
No. While AI can automate repetitive work, project managers are still needed to provide leadership, strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and conflict resolution.
What skills will project managers need in the age of AI?
Successful project managers will need strong communication, leadership, strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and the ability to use AI tools effectively without relying on them exclusively.
What are the benefits of AI in project management?
AI can reduce administrative work, improve productivity, support faster decision-making, enhance communication, and allow project managers to spend more time leading projects and teams.