At this weekend’s SQL Saturday South Florida event, Patricia Monica Ojeda, CEO of PMO Business and a seasoned project management executive, delivered a compelling presentation on how artificial intelligence is fundamentally transforming the discipline of project management. Titled “The State of Artificial Intelligence in Project Management” her talk offered both a roadmap and a wake-up call for project leaders navigating rapid AI integration.

The state of AI is always evolving; what’s true today may change tomorrow. But as orchestrators of complex initiatives, we must adapt faster than the technology.

Ojeda told the crowd.

From Orchestration to Anticipation

Ojeda emphasized that project managers are no longer just task-trackers, they are now digital strategists expected to forecast outcomes, manage intelligent resources, and leverage AI-driven dashboards. Tools like predictive analytics, machine learning, and natural language processing (NLP) are already being deployed to automate scheduling, allocate resources, and even detect risks before they emerge.

Traditionally, we’ve managed through hindsight, now we can lead with foresight

she said.

AI’s Practical Impact

Real world use cases peppered the presentation: from predictive risk analysis in enterprise environments to project summarization through tools like Notion AI and ChatGPT. Ojeda described how AI can reduce project execution timelines by up to 40% through automation of repetitive tasks.

She pointed to platforms like ClickUp, Monday.com, and JIRA as evolving into AI-powered ecosystems capable of supporting everything from sprint planning to mind mapping.

You don’t need to be a Fortune 500 company to benefit. Claude AI and free tools like Gemini or Read AI can give even small teams a major edge.

she noted.

Security, Governance & The Human Factor

Yet not all organizations are ready. Ojeda didn’t shy away from tough realities: many firms still block AI tools due to compliance concerns, outdated IT policies, or lack of AI governance frameworks.

Security is human-centric. Policies without enforcement and education are just paperwork.

she stressed.

She also warned that attention spans are shrinking – now averaging just three seconds – making education and engagement around responsible AI use more urgent than ever.

The New Skillset for PMs

The presentation called on project managers to evolve or risk obsolescence.

We must stop being just email senders or meeting schedulers. The new PM is creative, proactive, and tech-fluent. Agility is not an action, it’s a mindset.

said Ojeda.

Key future-proof skills she identified include AI literacy, data interpretation, stakeholder influence, and automation design. She predicted that within five years, AI agents could replace many legacy systems entirely.

AI Ethics and the Gray Zone

Ojeda also touched on the darker side of AI with examples ranging from fraudulent AI-driven job schemes to unauthorized Zoom plugins reading facial expressions.

Be creative, not criminal. Responsible AI isn’t just a tech issue, it’s a human one.

she quipped.

Bottom Line

Ojeda’s session was more than an overview, it was a call to leadership in an era of intelligent automation. For South Florida’s growing project management and tech communities, the message was clear: embrace AI not just as a tool, but as a team member and evolve your practices accordingly.