Why investing in people is the next stage for AI in real estate

There’s no question that artificial intelligence (AI) has become important to the real estate industry. The more important conversation organizations are having now is about how to maximize AI’s investment value. The key point I’ve learned is that this will come from people rather than the technology itself.

The industry already decided AI matters

82% of respondents believe AI will be important to the future success of real estate, according to our 2026 survey on trends in commercial real estate. This is great to hear, and based on discussions I’ve had with many in the industry who are excited by the prospect of the technology, is strongly supported.

How it’s currently used isn’t uniform, though. Different sectors utilize AI for property management and real estate operations in different ways. For example, where productivity, decision-making, and forecasting are the starting points for commercial organizations, multifamily organizations apply AI to more immediate operational challenges, like fraud prevention, resident experience, and centralization.

Any future business strategy will certainly leverage AI to some degree, but to do so successfully, organizations need to understand why the human element is important.

Confidence is key

While many are hopeful about AI’s potential, some still don’t feel prepared to use it. We’re all at different stages in our journeys with AI, but confidence in using it is what users should be reaching for.

Responsible use policies are also an important part of using AI, and users who aren’t aware of what those are may also be more nervous to use it as a result.

Concerns about training, adoption, and implementation barriers for it are also becoming clear. This makes sense when you factor in training, or lack thereof, in certain parts of the industry.

Comparing adoption and enablement

AI adoption is certainly on the rise, but many organizations are investing in the technology faster than they are in the people meant to use it. This can have a powerful impact, and this is where focus will be needed.

Based on our 2026 survey of multifamily industry trends, 87% of respondents have received AI training. That’s an incredible number, and it makes a strong statement when you compare it against the 75% of commercial respondents who haven’t received any.

This is also a challenge where a bigger budget and more tools won’t necessarily be what makes a difference.

The digital divide and the next wave of investment

Historically, access to technology is what defined digital transformation. Today, the digital divide may be between organizations that have AI tools and those whose employees are empowered and who know how to use them effectively.

AI’s value is clear to the industry, and confidence and literacy in using it are becoming bigger conversation points. Future industry winners won’t only be organizations that invest in people, but who successfully build AI into their workforce while effectively factoring in important components like change management and governance.

Conclusion

Easy access to AI is no longer a competitive advantage. The organizations that gain the greatest value from AI won’t necessarily be those with the biggest technology investments. They’ll be the ones that successfully combine people, data, and AI to create an AI-ready organization.

Our research insights support this, because AI adoption isn’t the problem. People want to use it. The real challenge is one of readiness. That’s what we need to work on, and that’s what we need to solve.