Machine Learning for Product Managers

How do you get started with machine learning?

By Ken Norton

Machine Learning for Product Managers

Arthur C. Clarke said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” I remember that every time I search for an old photo in Google Photos, filter an image in Prisma, talk to my Amazon Echo, or select a Smart Reply in Gmail. Machine learning is changing the face of computing, and faster than many of us ever imagined.

Machine learning is going to upend your industry and your product. (If you think ML is a fad, check in with someone who thought the web was a fad in 1998, or mobile in 2008.) Product managers need to understand the current state of AI, and the opportunities that machine learning and techniques such as deep learning provide for transforming your products and delighting your users.

With the help of some friends at Google I’ve put together this list of resources. I’m certain that this list is incomplete—if I left anything out, please let me know and I’ll keep the list of machine learning resources for product managers updated.

Must-Reads:

Next Steps:

Books:

“These artificial intelligence techniques are the present and the future of Google, maybe of all technology. Maybe of everything.” — Steven Levy

Originally published: July 27, 2016


Ken Norton is an executive coach who spent more than fourteen years at Google where he led product initiatives for Docs, Calendar, Google Mobile Maps, and GV (formerly Google Ventures).

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