By Markus Kopko
July 24, 2025
Series Introduction
Artificial Intelligence is no longer an emerging technology; it is an operational and strategic force reshaping how organizations deliver value. In this eight-part series, we explore how AI affects portfolio, program and project management (PPPM) at every level. Each article focuses on a distinct layer—from strategic alignment to operational execution—and is grounded in the principles and domains of PMI’s upcoming Standard for AI in Project, Program and Portfolio Management.
Whether you are a PMO leader, a seasoned program manager or a hands-on project lead, this series offers perspectives, practices and prompts to help you prepare for—and actively shape—the AI-augmented future of work.
This series at a glance:
- The Shift Begins – you are here
- Strategic AI in Portfolio Management
- Operational AI in Portfolio Management
- Strategic AI in Program Management
- Operational AI in Program Management
- Strategic AI in Project Management
- Operational AI in Project Management
- Human plus AI Partnership – ethics, maturity and next horizons
Article 1:
The Shift Begins – How AI Is Transforming PPPM from the Ground Up
Let us be clear: the rise of AI in project management is not about adding another tool to our toolkit. It is about fundamentally reshaping the very nature of what it means to lead change.
For decades, our discipline has evolved through new methods (Agile, hybrid), technologies (ERP, PPM tools) and mindsets (value-driven delivery). AI marks a fundamental break. It does not simply optimize what we do—it changes how we think, decide and lead.
The critical insight for every PPPM professional is AI affects us in two fundamental ways. First, AI is becoming the most powerful tool in our arsenal, extending our management and decision-making capabilities. Second, and increasingly, it is the deliverable itself—the very value our projects are tasked to create. Mastering both sides of this coin is the new leadership imperative.
The paradigm shift: from paper map to dynamic GPS
Picture the difference between a folded paper map and a dynamic GPS. The map – our classic project plan – is a static snapshot of the intended path. It is useful, but it cannot reroute you around a sudden traffic jam or a newly closed bridge.
AI augmented PPPM is your GPS. It operates on a live model of reality, anticipates risks, forecasts impact and proposes data driven alternatives. This shift from static plans to dynamic, learning models is why AI is more than an efficiency tool; it is a catalyst for organizational resilience and competitive advantage.
The two faces of AI in PPPM
To unlock AI’s full potential, we must understand and manage both roles of AI.
1) AI as your co-pilot, the intelligent augmentation partner
- In portfolio management, AI surfaces strategic misalignments, resource conflicts and hidden correlations across hundreds of initiatives.
- In program management, AI acts as a central nervous system, identifying cross-project dependencies and cumulative risks for true outcome focused orchestration.
- In project management, AI automates and personalizes reporting, scans team communications for sentiment drift and flags tasks endangering the critical path.
2) AI as your deliverable, the new value proposition
More projects now ship AI systems as their primary output. This introduces new demands:
- Dynamic scope: how do you define “done” for a machine learning model designed to evolve continuously?
- Emergent risks: algorithmic bias, opacity and unintended societal impact must be managed like any other risk.
- Governance gaps: validating an AI product requires new competencies for both team and stakeholders.
A project manager rolling out an AI powered chatbot without understanding training data, bias and ethical guardrails is steering the project toward failure.
A new language for a new reality
To navigate this shift, we need a shared vocabulary. Three terms will guide us throughout the series:
- Explainability – the ability to articulate why the AI recommended a course of action.
- Responsible stewardship – the obligation to assess impacts on employees, customers and society.
- Continuous tailoring – the practice of adjusting AI use to the organization’s changing maturity and context.
Example: a global retailer’s AI recruiting tool delivered faster screening yet systematically excluded qualified candidates from underrepresented groups because it learned from biased historical data. The project was technically successful but ethically and socially damaging. Responsible stewardship asks not “does it work?” but “should it work this way?”
The last mile belongs to the human
AI automates tasks but doesn’t assume responsibility. It provides recommendations but lacks context rich decisions. It detects patterns but doesn’t create meaning.
The last mile—context, ethical judgment, empathetic stakeholder management, courageous leadership—is ours.
Your ten-minute action
Before the next article, run a decision audit on one current project:
- List three significant decisions you made this week.
- For each, note the data used, assumptions made and stakeholder input.
- Ask: could AI have provided deeper insight, revealed blind spots or improved communication?
Keep these notes. We will revisit them as we explore AI augmented decision making across every PPPM level.
Up next: Strategic AI in Portfolio Management, from Business Cases to Intelligent Benefit Streams
Coach, Speaker & Trusted Guide for Human-Centered PM Excellence
Markus Kopko is a seasoned expert in project, program, and portfolio management with over two decades of experience in shaping strategic transformation across industries. As Principal Consultant, founder of „MP4PM – Method Power for Project Management“ – (www.mp4pm.club ) – and content creator, he has supported countless professionals on their journey toward PMI certification (e.g. PMP, PgMP) and practical excellence in applying global standards (e.g. PMBoK Guide, ITIL etc.) in their daily work.
A trusted advisor and international speaker, Markus served on the PMI Review Team for the PMBOK® Guide – 7th Edition, contributes to the Core Development Team of the upcoming PMI Standard on AI in Project, Program, and Portfolio Management, and regularly publishes thought leadership content on integrating modern methodologies with real-world delivery.
Markus specializes in strategic program management, lifecycle governance, stakeholder alignment, and benefits realization. He is widely recognized for translating complex frameworks into actionable practices, helping organizations align execution with strategic intent – especially in AI-driven environments.
He holds certifications including PMP®, PgMP®, and is also a Certified AI Transformation Lead (C-AITL by USAII). Markus shares his expertise through global PMI communities, keynote contributions, and coaching – always with one core principle: Lead with empathy. Empower with trust. Show up human — every single day.“
