Newsletter

Hey everyone!

In this issue, I explore a troubling question: what happens when the AI agent writing your project status report decides to hide bad news? Recent cases have shown AI models inventing data, concealing mistakes, and leaving instructions to keep users unaware of problems. This reminded me of something I have seen throughout my career: the project that looks green on the outside but is already red inside.

The problem is not just technology. It is also about the culture and incentives we create. When people are punished for reporting bad news, transparency becomes a risk. AI can reproduce this behavior at machine speed, making it essential to demand evidence, establish clear controls, and ensure that someone remains accountable.

In this issue, I also look at AI governance, the decline in entry-level job postings, and how AI is making it possible to rebuild complex software. Plus, I share updates on PM Goal, our upcoming Office Hours session, and applications for the 2027 AIPM Ambassadors program.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

In this issue, I want to talk about something I have been deliberately seeking in recent years: stepping outside my own bubble. It is one of the reasons I keep going back to Burning Man. More than an experience in the desert, it puts me in situations, surrounded by people and ideas that challenge my patterns and force me to see the world differently. And I believe this has a direct connection to the future of Project Management.

As AI takes over more and more of the operational work, judgment, adaptability, relationships, and the ability to see new connections become even more important. But we cannot think differently if we continue receiving exactly the same inputs. We need to find ways to step outside our comfort zones and question the things we take for granted.

In this issue, I also share some reflections on the speed of new AI model releases, what a potential breakthrough on the Navier–Stokes problem could mean, and different approaches to leadership in projects. I also bring updates on our next AIPM Masterclass and a special update on our scholarship program.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

In this edition, I want to explore a question I believe is becoming increasingly important for the future of project management: who are we preparing to become the leaders of 2035? Artificial intelligence is taking over many of the tasks that traditionally served as an entry point for early-career professionals. But those tasks were not simply administrative — they were also opportunities to learn, gain experience, and gradually develop judgment.

I also reflect on what this transformation means for productivity and organizational development. If AI makes work faster, that does not necessarily mean we are creating more value. We need to rethink how we develop people, transfer experience, and prepare the next generation to make decisions in increasingly complex environments.

In this edition, I also share a practical toolkit for AI-related project decisions, updates on the AIPM certification, and the availability of the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition Process Flow in six languages. More than discussing what AI can automate, I want to raise a fundamental question: if the first rung of the career ladder is disappearing, who are we developing to become the leaders of the future?

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

In this edition, I share some thoughts on the future of project management in the age of artificial intelligence and present three scenarios that could profoundly transform how professionals work by 2030. Beyond just discussing technology, I invite you to consider where true human value will continue to lie.

I also share my perspective on the rise of Chinese AI—specifically Kimi—and the evolution of ChatGPT into a new way of working based on delegation. Plus, I cover highlights from AI Community Day and updates on my LinkedIn Learning courses: the AI-Driven Project Management Masterclass and the AIPM certification.

I hope this edition inspires you to reflect on how to evolve alongside artificial intelligence and prepare for the future of our profession.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

In this edition, I share why I believe IA is not replacing the PMO, but reimagining it. I explore how AI agents are taking over operational activities and transforming the role of project professionals, shifting the focus from reporting and process control to analysis, judgment, and leadership.

I also reflect on who should define the limits of AI as governments and regulations increasingly shape its development, and discuss how the rise of intelligent agents may be redefining the future of software and accelerating the decline of the traditional SaaS model.

Finally, I’m excited to share several updates, including the launch of ten new LinkedIn Learning courses in Portuguese, an upcoming PMI Europe webinar on AI in project management, and a new article on AI governance, infrastructure, and systemic risk, highlighting why project management maturity will be essential for the responsible adoption of AI.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

In this edition, I share an experience that transformed the way I think about productivity, knowledge, and work: building my own AI-powered digital twin. I explain how I trained the AI using my books, articles, presentations, and professional frameworks, and reflect on what this process revealed about the future of work and project management.

I also discuss a remarkable AI breakthrough in scientific research, where an AI model contributed to solving a mathematical problem that had remained open for nearly 80 years, and I share photos and highlights from my participation at the Brazilian Project Management Congress 2026.

In addition, I’m pleased to introduce two important new resources: the Brazilian Portuguese version of the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition Process Flow, available free of charge, and my new PMBOK® 8 course, designed to help project professionals apply the guide’s concepts in a more practical and real-world context.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

In this edition, I reflect on the risks of opinions without real knowledge. In “The Danger of Uninformed Opinion,” I address the concept of “situational humility” and show how superficial opinions, often amplified by influence and social networks, can impact decisions, teams, and projects.

The newsletter also highlights current trends in AI, including the strategy of S&P 500 companies for adopting artificial intelligence and the characteristics of the “AI-generated fruit soap operas” that went viral on social media, prompting reflection on attention, overstimulation, and decision-making.

Another highlight is the presentation of my “digital twin” at the Brazilian project management congress, showing how AI agents can expand knowledge and support management.

Finally, the edition announces the new class of the AI ​​in Projects Masterclass with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez and recommends the book *The Project Management AI Handbook*, focused on the practical application of AI in project management.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

In this edition, I draw attention to an often invisible risk in projects: the silent loss of the sponsor. In “Fasten Your Seatbelts: The Sponsor Is Gone,” I show how the absence of active leadership doesn't generate immediate failures, but weakens decisions, alignment, and project progress over time.

The newsletter also addresses the role of artificial intelligence in current work. On the one hand, it reinforces human capabilities that AI does not yet replace—such as judgment and influence. On the other hand, it offers a relevant insight: AI is not reducing work, but making it more intense and demanding.

In the final highlights, there is the new date for the free webinar with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, as well as an advance announcement of a complete course on the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition, aimed at making its application more practical and accessible.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

In recent weeks, I've been reflecting on a question that goes beyond deadlines and deliverables: what kind of project manager will the world need in the coming decades? In a future shaped by accelerating technologies, new sciences, and increasingly complex systems, our role may evolve from managing constraints to fostering alignment between people, interests, and directions.

In this edition, I share reflections on this transformation and on the advancement of agentic AI tools, such as Claude Cowork, which are beginning to execute complete tasks within workflows. I also discuss the recent debate about the so-called "SaaSpocalypse" and bring insights from my participation as host of the O'Reilly GenAI Superstream, where we explored how AI agents are beginning to transform the way work is done.

At the same time, I reflect on something equally important: the skills that AI cannot yet perform. Strengthening judgment, influence, empathy, and contextual awareness may become one of the greatest differentiators for project professionals in the future.

Finally, I'm sharing news about the next edition of the AI-Driven Project Management masterclass, new courses I'm developing with LinkedIn Learning, and the launch of the AI ​​Ambassadors program, an initiative to build a global community dedicated to the practical application of AI in project management.

I hope this edition will be an invitation to reflect not only on the next project, but on the future of our profession.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

This edition looks beyond any single event to focus on a broader shift shaping our profession: AI is becoming operational, teams are increasingly hybrid, and human-centered leadership is what ultimately drives project success.

In the pages ahead, I reflect on the rise of autonomous AI agents, Meta’s bold move with the Manus acquisition, and the growing competition in enterprise AI ecosystems highlighted by Claude’s integration into Microsoft Copilot.

You’ll also find updates on the evolution of our professional foundations, including the release of the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition in print, alongside opportunities to build practical AI capabilities through masterclasses, certifications, and my LinkedIn Learning courses.

I also invite you to join me at the O’Reilly GenAI Superstream, where we’ll explore how agent-driven workflows are moving from theory to real execution.

As we begin 2026, this newsletter is an invitation to focus not just on speed, but on direction — and on creating lasting value with technology and leadership.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

For this 26th edition, I decided to pause. This is a special Christmas newsletter and the last one of the year — created a little differently, without the usual sections or announcements. Just a moment to slow down and reflect on what this year truly meant for us as project managers.

As 2025 comes to a close, one thing feels clear: this was the year AI fully consolidated itself in our professional lives. Not as a promise or experiment, but as a real presence reshaping how we think, decide, and work — across industries, roles, and everyday choices.

Throughout the year, I shared stories from healthcare, education, creativity, and leadership that all pointed in the same direction. AI has turned information scarcity into abundance, making human judgment, ethics, and sense-making more important than ever.

This edition is an invitation to reflect on leadership in this new reality — where adopting AI is not just a technology decision, but a responsibility that shapes how projects are governed, led, and delivered.

As we close the year, I hope this newsletter offers you space to pause, look back with clarity, and reconnect with what truly matters.

Wishing you and your loved ones peaceful holidays and a wonderful end of the year.

Ricardo

Hey everyone!

I’m back with a new edition of our newsletter — and it brings one of the most important updates our profession has seen in years.

This month, we explore the release of the PMBOK® Guide 8th Edition — what changed, why it matters, and how to use it in a more practical, intuitive way, focusing on patterns and outcomes rather than memorization.

We also look at major shifts in the AI landscape, with Google’s Gemini challenging ChatGPT, and how Gemini Pro Nano Banana is redefining how we turn complex data into clear, visual insights.

Plus, there’s plenty happening:

• The last Masterclass of 2025 is just around the corner.
• A new course on Project Leadership and Governance for Senior Executives is now live.
• And an inspiring update on how our scholarship program continues to change lives around the world.

This edition is about evolution — of standards, tools, leadership, and opportunity — and about strengthening how we deliver projects in a rapidly changing world.

Happy reading!

Ricardo