A Cursor developer says engineers need to set 'clear expectations' as AI lets product managers build prototypes

• A Cursor engineer says AI tools let product managers build prototypes without backend systems.
• But engineers should set "clear expectations" to improve the workflow, says Eric Zakariasson.
• His comments come as the role of product managers and engineers shifts in the AI era.

While product managers are spinning up prototypes with AI-assisted coding tools, engineers are left to make them production-ready.

Eric Zakariasson, an engineer at Cursor who focuses on developer experience and product, said at the AI Engineer Europe 2026 conference in a recording published Tuesday that setting "clear expectations" between engineering and product teams could help smooth workflows.

That includes defining "what engineers kind of want from the product organization and what's most helpful for them," he said.

"Maybe not vibe coding complete SaaS products is the most efficient thing," he added, referring to fully functioning apps.

Zakariasson said product managers can now create interactive prototypes without touching backend systems using AI-assisted coding tools.

Those prototypes can show how a product should behave — what happens when a user clicks a button or submits a form. However, these products don't need to be fully working, "just enough, to like, your engineers can understand," Zakariasson said.

Product managers become AI builders

Product managers are increasingly expected to build their own prototypes, experimenting with vibe coding as the lines between product and engineering blur.

Business Insider reported in February that some Meta product managers have started calling themselves "AI builders," reflecting how AI coding tools are expanding who can build software inside the company.

This shift also comes from a broader leadership push. During Meta's Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said AI tools would fundamentally change how work gets done across the company in 2026.

"We're investing in AI-native tooling, so individuals at Meta can get more done," Zuckerberg said. "We're elevating individual contributors and flattening teams. We're starting to see projects that used to require big teams now be accomplished by a single very talented person."

Other companies are also rethinking traditional roles. Last year, LinkedIn said it would scrap its associate product manager program and replace it with training focused on coding, design, and end-to-end product development.

While AI tools are changing what product managers can do, some engineers say AI-assisted coding is making their jobs more demanding.

Siddhant Khare, a software engineer at ONA, told Business Insider in February that although AI has boosted his productivity, it has also changed the nature of his work.

"We used to call it an engineer, now it is like a reviewer," Khare said. "It feels like you are a judge at an assembly line and that assembly line is never-ending, you just keep stamping those PRs," he added, referring to AI-generated code changes.