Key facts
- Copperlane co-founders Athan Zhang and Brianna Lin discussed mortgage AI adoption.
- They believe AI adoption strategy must come before mortgage AI ROI.
- Lenders need to integrate AI without disrupting loan officers' workflows.
- Copperlane measures adoption by reducing human touches per loan.
- Copperlane's AI agent, Penny, aims for 95% automation.
- Zhang sees broader mortgage AI adoption as inevitable, driven by a breakthrough experience.
In a discussion with HousingWire, Copperlane co-founders Athan Zhang and Brianna Lin outlined key considerations for lenders seeking to successfully adopt artificial intelligence in the mortgage industry. They stressed that a strategic approach to AI adoption must precede expectations of return on investment.
Zhang, the company's CEO, noted that Copperlane's approach combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of the mortgage process, gained through personal experience and direct engagement with customers. "We’re always very dedicated to coming to these shows, dedicated to meeting our customers in person, talking to their loan officers and really understanding the process," Zhang said. This user-centric development allows them to build products that better fit existing workflows.
Lin, the COO, explained that lenders cannot rely solely on technology investments for results. She highlighted leadership buy-in as just the first step, with crucial intermediate stages like driving adoption among loan officers (LOs). "Loan officers all have their own workflows. They all have their favorite processor. They all have their own tool set up," Lin said. She emphasized that integrating technology in a way that minimizes disruption to these established habits is critical for lenders aiming to see ROI.