Using ChatGPT to Prioritize Features and Building the Confidence to Say ‘No’ With Objectivity

Creating a “Show me the money” prioritized list of features as a forcing function for customers, product and GTM to get aligned.

Prioritizing product features is a bit like herding caffeinated cats — everyone has an opinion, many have their preferred data, and somehow, everything is ‘top priority.’ So, instead of engaging in a corporate Hunger Games where the loudest voices win, I decided to use ChatGPT to bring some much-needed objectivity to the chaos. Enter: The ‘Show Me the Money’ List — a forcing function designed to get Product and GTM aligned and, crucially, give me a legitimate excuse to reject terrible ideas with a data-backed smile.

Bottom line: Product leaders need a clear way to defend against unplanned work that is misaligned with GTM and company strategy.

Disclaimer: This approach assumes you are a product leader that has taken the time and energy to become deeply familiar with your company vision, strategy and the has invested time in interviewing key customers.

Step 1: Gather Your Data Inputs

To make this work, I needed hard evidence — not just gut feelings and PowerPoint bravado. Here’s what went into my AI-powered crystal ball:

• Product Vision & Strategy Document — Because wandering around in the dark is for amateurs.
• GTM Strategy — Where marketing wizards try to turn roadmaps into revenue.
• Product Initiatives & Current Projects (these do not need to be prioritized but it is helpful) — A beautiful mess that needs sorting.
• Voice of the Customer (VOC) Interviews — The raw, unfiltered truth from people who actually buy our stuff.
• Customer Support Tickets — A mix of feature requests and tech support cries for help.
• North Star Metric Matrix — The almighty map of inputs and outputs that actually keep the business alive.

Without these thoughtfully considered inputs, you’re just another product person making ‘strategic decisions’ based on opinions. The collection and understanding of these documents is essential. Crap in, crap out.

Step 2: Deploying ChatGPT Like a Ruthless Prioritization Machine

Once I had my data, I crafted the following prompt at ChatGPT:

“Please create an ordered and prioritized list that ranks these features against their likelihood to provide value to our customers, are feasible to design and build with our current team, and will meet our vision and GTM strategy objectives. Separately, create a list based on a confidence ranking of which features will achieve our ARR, ACV, and LTV goals.”

Translation: Tell me what’s worth our time and what should be sent to the digital graveyard.

Step 3: The Glorious Output (and Why It Works)

ChatGPT came back with a beautifully ruthless ranking, assessing:

1. How much revenue potential each feature had.
2. How much our customers actually cared.
3. How feasible it was for our engineers to build.

Shockingly, the results weren’t that different from what I expected — because, you know, I actually read (and in some cases authored) the inputs. But here’s the thing: this wasn’t about me prioritizing work, it was about creating an objective framework to tell others ‘no’ without starting a holy war.

This method neutralized the classic internal chaos where Sales wants one thing, Marketing wants another, and Engineering just wants to be do something else.

Final Thoughts: Stop Playing Prioritization Roulette

1. ChatGPT is the ultimate corporate referee. Without feelings and politics to worry about, it takes the emotion out of decisions, which is great when dealing with passionate but misinformed stakeholders.
2. This is an iterative game — Priorities shift, and so should your inputs. Keep refining your data set.
3. Alignment matters more than individual priorities — The true win here isn’t just a list — it’s getting everyone on the same page so we can focus on what actually drives growth.

So, if you’re drowning in a sea of competing priorities and aggressive Slack messages, give ChatGPT a shot. It won’t replace human judgment, but it will give you the best possible ammunition to make the tough calls.