How ancient philosophy informs my work as a product manager in AI
It’s all about nuance, identity, alignment, and values
In college, I minored in philosophy. I might have majored in it, but it seemed too impractical. What practical value does philosophy have for a successful career? So I majored in computer science and math, and just did philosophy on the side. But surprisingly, my philosophy background has provided an essential foundation for much of my work — from accessibility to generative AI to leadership.
This seems all the more strange given that the philosophy I was studying was old and niche. My focus area was 12th century philosophers who wrote about God, creation, and virtue. I studied how their philosophy related to the dogma of their religion, how it differentiated theirs from other religions, and how it responded to earlier philosophers going back as far as 350 BCE. Not exactly generative AI or business strategy.
But what I learned was how to communicate and lead in a nuanced way, confidently addressing topics that are sensitive, charged, and meaningful. Engaging with different narratives about religion gave me the subtlety to engage with narratives about disability, diversity, and identity — and how these are represented by AI. Studying how Maimonides integrated Aristotelian virtue ethics while staying aligned with his religious community gave me a model for integrating safety and inclusion into generative AI products as part of achieving broader business goals. Reading different philosophers within the same religious tradition gave me a reference for articulating opinionated strategies that are both distinctive to the unique circumstances of my product and also harmonious with the tradition of my leadership and company.
Once, when I was particularly enjoying studying Aristotle’s virtue ethics, I remember saying that the kind of job I really wanted was one where I could talk about values. At the time, the concept of such a job seemed absurd. But now whenever I design a new feature or product strategy, I start by defining the principles. What really matters for this to be successful? These are the values. When I want to motivate a team, I can emphasize our shared values. Executives set the culture of an organization through the values that they articulate, model, and embed into processes. Now I see how philosophy is essential to my career.
I love that my work requires drawing on both philosophical and technical ways of thinking. Technical knowledge alone isn’t enough. So thank you to Aristotle, Maimonides, and the Mutikallimun for being part of my journey.
