Artificial intelligence promises to radically transform the real estate industry, but it cannot replace decisions based on human relationships

According to the Colliers survey, 73% of respondents in the EMEA and North American regions, and 78% in the Asia-Pacific region, anticipate that artificial intelligence will have a significant - if not revolutionary - impact on the real estate market. The most commonly cited applications include smart location mapping (55%), facilities management (49%), lease administration (46%), and portfolio strategy (45%). Companies in the Asia-Pacific region are already at an advanced stage of implementation, using AI solutions integrated into smart buildings and automated processes to increase operational efficiency. For example, the EcoStruxure Building Advisor platform uses machine learning algorithms to optimize energy performance. These technologies enable the anticipation of maintenance issues, improve occupant comfort, and reduce operational costs.

73% of respondents in EMEA and North America, and 78% in the Asia-Pacific region, believe that AI will have a significant or even revolutionary impact on the real estate industry, according to the Colliers survey. The most frequently targeted areas include location analytics (55%), followed by facilities management (49%), lease administration (46%), and portfolio strategy (45%). In the Asia-Pacific region, companies are already at an advanced stage of adoption, using AI systems integrated into smart buildings and automated processes to enhance operational efficiency.

Although artificial intelligence is seen as a potentially transformative factor for the real estate industry, its impact on the workforce appears limited for now. According to a Colliers survey, most companies do not anticipate major changes to their staffing structures: 57% of respondents in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), 58% in North America, and 47% in Asia-Pacific believe AI will not significantly affect employment. Only 2% of respondents expect a substantial reduction in headcount due to AI. Colliers experts attribute this to the fact that real estate decisions are deeply human, relying on interpersonal relationships, trust, and the ability to interpret subtle contextual cues - all of which remain essential in the industry.

“While automation brings efficiencies, people remain key to consulting, negotiating, and building lasting relationships. Technology may accompany this journey, but it is people who create the bridge between logic and emotion. No algorithm can generate trust. No dashboard can read the energy of a room. And no AI can replace the courage required to support an important decision”, explains Daniela Popescu, Director | Tenant Services & Workplace Advisory at Colliers.

Colliers consultants point out that decisions in real estate are never just about square footage or efficiency calculations. Processes such as choosing a new workspace, relocating a team, or rethinking how employees interact with the office involve much more than data. These are decisions heavily influenced by emotional, cultural, and human factors. While technology can help optimize space, it cannot anticipate people's real fears or aspirations. It cannot replace the trust built over time, nor can it take on the role of empathetic leadership that understands context and acts with discernment.

The risks associated with the use of artificial intelligence in real estate are significant and cannot be overlooked. According to the Colliers survey, 56% of respondents in North America and 49% in EMEA perceive AI as a moderate to high risk, with the main concerns being data privacy, implementation complexity, and the potential impact on employees. Against this backdrop, success will not necessarily belong to the companies that adopt AI the fastest, but to those that manage to integrate the technology into a coherent, people-centred strategy, where AI becomes a decision-support tool, not a substitute for human judgment. The right approach is to balance technological benefits with responsible risk management, ensuring transparency, strong governance, and adherence to ethical standards in data use.

“In people-centric organisations, the office is not just a production space, it’s a place where people feel seen, heard, and supported, and where real connections are made. The office of the future needs more than technology; it needs meaning, courage, and, above all, people. At Colliers, we believe in a future where artificial intelligence supports rather than replaces processes, a future where empathy is a design criterion, not just a human quality, and where the office remains a space created for people, not instead of them”, concludes Daniela Popescu.