Key facts
- AI tools can now write listing descriptions in seconds and answer buyer questions.
- Historical technologies like calculators and the internet also faced initial resistance and fears of devaluing human expertise.
- Photography was once dismissed as a threat to art but became its own demanding craft.
- Spreadsheets allowed business owners to explore more scenarios by making recalculations free.
- The internet, despite its benefits, also caused damage alongside good.
- Agents are advised to test AI tools, identify their errors, and determine which parts of a transaction require human judgment.
The real estate industry is experiencing anxiety over artificial intelligence, with agents expressing concerns that AI tools could devalue their skills and even replace them. This sentiment, however, is not new and mirrors historical reactions to technological advancements like calculators, cameras, and the internet.
Historically, new technologies have often been met with skepticism, with fears that they would lead to laziness, a decline in essential skills, and the erosion of expertise. For instance, Socrates argued that writing would weaken memory, and a 15th-century abbot defended hand copying over printed books. Photography was initially dismissed as a threat to art, and even Thomas Edison campaigned against alternating current while promoting his own technology.
In the 1980s, math teachers protested the use of calculators, fearing harm to students' education. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics eventually recommended selective use, emphasizing that while machines can perform calculations, understanding which numbers are relevant and spotting incorrect answers still requires human intellect. Similarly, the advent of spreadsheets, like VisiCalc, allowed for instant recalculations, leading to better decision-making by enabling exploration of more scenarios.
The article argues that focusing solely on the tasks AI can automate overlooks the potential for improved decision-making and the creation of new opportunities. It advises real estate professionals to actively engage with AI tools, understand their limitations, identify errors, and determine which aspects of their work require human judgment. The authors suggest that rather than succumbing to fatalism, individuals should focus on building competence and finding ways to leverage new technologies to enhance their work, similar to how photography and spreadsheets evolved into demanding crafts.