AI-Era PRD Template: Build 5 Prototypes First, Then Write the PRD for the Survivor
aakashgupta · x · 2026-10-22
Product leader Aakash Gupta argues the old PRD is obsolete: it used to be a permission document because building was the most expensive step, but now a prototype is a prompt away. His new flow: go from idea straight to 5 prototypes, then write the PRD for the survivor — turning the PRD into a decision record.
Key blocks in his 2026 AI-era template:
- Behavior contract (new for AI features): 15–25 examples spanning good, bad, and amazing responses
- Success metrics: a graduation metric plus a golden set of offline evals for AI features, to avoid shipping AI slop
- Rollout & rollback: exposure, duration, ramp gates, and who owns the kill switch
- Living doc: put the results link at the top so the PRD keeps evolving
He acknowledges some teams have dropped PRDs entirely, but argues regulated industries and teams at scale still need them.
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