Artificial intelligence in project management: Improving efficiency or professional obsolescence?

Artificial intelligence promises to increase the performance of projects and the efficiency of professionals, but raises the question of the obsolescence of traditional skills and roles. This research seeks to determine whether AI is a strategic necessity for the company or a threat to project managers, by analysing how it redistributes responsibilities within teams. The research is based on a review of the state of the art and semi-structured interviews with project management experts from a variety of sectors, providing a rich and nuanced analysis of the integration of AI into project management. The results show a consensus on the performance gains achieved by automating repetitive tasks, optimising planning and communication, and enabling high-quality forecasts and predictions. However, human supervision is still essential to ensure that the solution is in line with the company's strategy, relevant to the context surrounding the project and its evolution, and meets the needs of the stakeholders. The study reveals that AI is transforming traditional roles and there is a need to adapt skills, processes, and application of project management methods. Project management professionals need to refocus on strategic tasks with high added value such as managing human relationships, making complex decisions, and delivering value and benefit to the company and clients. This evolution of project management from the technical to the strategic requires a continuous re-qualification and training of skills to maintain the relevance of Project Managers. This research is aimed at project management professionals as well as strategic managers and functions. It reveals how organisations can take advantage of AI in project management to remain competitive while avoiding the pitfalls of professional obsolescence. Strong organisational and cultural support is crucial to promote the acceptance of AI and to establish internal policies adapted to the challenges. This study adds to our understanding and anticipation of major transformations in project management in the age of AI