AI & cybersecurity in PropTech: Addressing privacy and technology risk

The PropTech landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a future aspiration; it’s a current-day differentiator, powering everything from automated leasing and predictive maintenance to financial forecasting and intelligent tenant experiences. 

But as real estate organizations embrace AI to drive operational excellence and unlock new revenue streams, a new frontier of risk is emerging: the intersection of AI, cybersecurity, and privacy. 

How can real estate firms confidently leverage AI-powered solutions while mitigating risk? 

AI: A Game-Changer for PropTech—and a New Attack Surface 

AI enables real estate firms to make smarter, faster decisions. But the complexity of AI systems introduces new risks that traditional cybersecurity strategies weren’t built to handle. 

Here are a few examples of how AI technology can be used for malicious purposes: 

• AI-enabled phishing: Generative models mimic brokers, leasing agents, or tenants. 

• Model manipulation and data poisoning: These tactics can threaten smart building operations and rent forecasting tools by intentionally modifying the behavior of AI models and corrupting the training datasets to influence outputs. 

• Black box AI decisions: AI systems that make decisions based on their own opaque logic may violate fair housing or privacy laws if left unchecked. 

In a data-rich industry like real estate—where sensitive financial, occupancy, and identity data are core inputs—the implications are significant. 

MRI Software’s Approach: Intelligent, Secure, and Accountable 

At MRI Software, we believe the future of real estate technology must be both intelligent and secure. As we embed AI across the MRI Agora™ platform, we’re simultaneously advancing our commitment to responsible innovation, data protection, and client trust. 

From automation in property management to predictive analytics in asset performance, we’re focused on three guiding principles: 

1. Privacy by design 

AI models are trained using data governance best practices, anonymization techniques, and privacy-aware architectures. Whether enabling digital lease approvals or smart maintenance scheduling, we design every solution to respect client and tenant data from day one. 

2. Trust through transparency 

We prioritize explainability. If AI is making a recommendation, whether it’s a risk score or a tenant screening alert, our clients need to understand why. Our approach to AI emphasizes interpretability and auditability at every stage of deployment. 

3. Securing the full AI lifecycle 

Cybersecurity isn’t a layer that’s bolted on; it’s a capability embedded across every part of the AI/ML pipeline, from training to live operations. Our cloud-based platform architecture incorporates best-in-class access control, data integrity monitoring, and model behavior observability. 

Raising the Bar for PropTech Security 

With real estate organizations increasingly reliant on third-party platforms and AI-driven insights, it’s time to raise expectations. At MRI, we’re taking a leadership position in: 

• Aligning with global AI regulations (e.g., EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001) 

• Building internal AI governance boards 

• Enforcing ethical use standards for vendors integrating AI into the MRI ecosystem 

For AI-powered PropTech to succeed, it must be responsible, secure, and aligned with the real-world needs of owners, operators, investors, and residents. 

In an industry that balances buildings, people, and data, the AI advantage must be built on a foundation of trust. MRI is committed to delivering AI-powered innovation that’s as secure as it is smart—empowering real estate leaders to make bold moves, without compromising privacy or resilience. 

The future of PropTech is intelligent. Together, let’s make it secure by design. 

Learn more about how AI and the MRI Agora Platform are redefining real estate technology.