FreezePoints eMagazine

On Tuesday, September 8th, 2026, PMI Orange County's September held their monthly dinner meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel - Irvine Spectrum. Tammo Wilkens was the featured keynote speaker and his presentation was titled "My Life with Alex: AI for Project Management … and Beyond."

According to his presentation, Tammo had no real intention to use AI until a friend urged him to try ChatGPT, and what hooked him was learning it could generate images. His first project was a picture of Alexander Hamilton, the subject of an essay he wrote, resurrected in a modern hospital. One question led to several, then to daily use. When he asked what he should call the AI, it replied, "I kind of like Alex," and the name stuck.

His presentation is clear about limits. Alex is not human, is not always correct, and is not a decision maker. But Tammo calls it an extremely capable thinking partner that challenges his thinking, asks better questions, and never gets tired. He has used it for everything from customizing his website to mounting a flagpole.

For project managers, the slides argue that AI can support much of what we do: analyzing, anticipating risks, writing reports, communicating, and comparing alternatives. The numbers make the case. Saving just 20 minutes a day adds up to about 83 hours a year, more than two work weeks, and Tammo calls that a conservative estimate. He showed many examples of how PMs can use AI under planning, execution, leadership, analysis, and communication.

Tammo also built custom GPTs based on the project management course he teaches, one for each Knowledge Area and designed to challenge the user. The presentation includes a live demo segment and invites attendees to try his "PM Tutor."

His presentation addresses the common fears directly: Will this replace PMs? Can I trust it? Is this just hype? Its answer is balanced. AI is not a replacement for judgment, but it can be a thinking accelerator, a brainstorming partner, and a risk identification tool.

Tammo closes by noting that he is 83 and still learning things that change his life. His final message: "I started by asking Alex for answers. I stayed because Alex helped me think."