Property professionals unfazed about AI takeover

The majority of UK property professionals are confident that their job will not be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).

A survey by development sourcing site Searchland found just 13% of people working in the property sector are worried that AI technology could make their role within the workplace obsolete.

The study commissioned by Searchland surveyed UK property professionals on their attitudes to AI and whether or not they had already adopted the technology within the workplace. 

When it comes to the benefits of AI, the industry is split, with half believing that AI technology can help improve the way we work within the property sector, while half don’t. 

Supporters said AI can be best applied when automating and streamlining “laborious or time consuming tasks” along with data collecting, processing and analysis. 

Just 13% of those surveyed stated that their company had already adopted AI technology, with data processing being the most common area of application. 

However, 84% agreed that technology can only do so much without the guidance of a human being, with a further 78% believing that being too reliant on technology can be detrimental to the service they are able to offer. 

Just over half went on to say that the best approach when it comes to dealing with consumers is to use a combination of people and technology.

Mitchell Fasanya, co-founder of Searchland, said: “AI has become a bit of a buzz word in recent months, with companies looking to jump on the bandwagon just because they think they should. It’s currently the ‘in thing’ and it’s perhaps for this reason that the industry hasn’t truly considered its potential capabilities and applications. 

“However, AI is already proving an invaluable tool and even in its infancy it’s being utilised to considerably reduce process timelines, increase operational efficiency and improve the service provided to the consumer.

“In this respect, it’s the next chapter of the proptech story and we’re already seeing big names within the sector sit up and take notice, with Rightmove bringing an AI expert onto its board just this week.

“AI isn’t about replacing people, it’s about allowing those people to work to the best of their abilities. At Searchland, we’ve implemented AI tech to help improve our product and proposition, adding value to the consumer, but not at the expense of our team of outstanding humans.”