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AI & CRE | Insights from Our Associates
In an era teeming with technological advancements, artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly become an integral part of various industries, including commercial real estate. At Foundry, we strive to stay at the forefront of innovation, and some of our employees have been actively exploring and utilizing AI tools to enhance their workflow. In this article, we’ll delve into the experiences and insights of associates who have integrated AI into their daily tasks.
Lauren Marquess, Digital Marketing Manager
Hi I’m Lauren Marquess, Digital Marketing Manager, and I’ve been harnessing the power of AI to enhance my creative prowess. A self-proclaimed AI “nerd,” I find myself digging into articles, podcasts, TikToks and Reels daily as this technological landscape continues to change.
My current AI toolkit includes products from Adobe, which I use to craft unique social media posts and varied graphics. I’ve had the opportunity to test out Adobe’s Firefly AI Beta program, and I’m amazed by how quickly I am able to create content. Utilizing things like the new autofill feature, subject select, mock-up and more while photo editing have sped up my workflow significantly.
A significant aspect of my job involves video creation, and I’ve found AI tools to help curate the perfect songs to accompany videos, creating powerful soundtracks. The seamless integration of AI in my video production workflow has proven to be a game-changer, enabling me to deliver compelling content efficiently.
Furthermore, I rely on AI tools like ChatGPT and Grammarly for copywriting needs. I’ve found that this helps create a base for different things I need to write, and then I tweak to match the associated brand voice.
As I continue to explore different AI tools, I can’t help but geek out thinking how these powerful technologies will help grow Foundry’s business. I can’t wait to see how our platform continues to integrate them!
Cassey Flannery, Senior Associate
Casey Flannery, Senior Associate on the Nashville industrial team, actively explores AI’s potential. Primarily relying on ChatGPT, she finds it more valuable than traditional search engines, keeping it bookmarked for easy access. AI prompts assist Casey in crafting captivating social media captions tailored for LinkedIn or Instagram, sparking creativity and personalization. Casey encourages embracing AI in workflows, recognizing its competitive advantage and valuable opportunities. While AI’s full impact on real estate is yet to be fully realized, Casey remains confident it will significantly influence the sector, nevertheless, she believes that human expertise and personalized services will remain essential in the industry. Excited about automating tasks like lease abstractions and document searches, Casey envisions endless possibilities for AI integration, driving efficiency in her role as a real estate broker.
Zane Henderson, Vice President of Services Operations
As someone who continually analyzes data, Vice President Zane Henderson on the real estate services operations team recognizes the immense potential of AI in his role. He has explored various AI tools, including ChatGPT, Axiom AI (a data gathering tool), Bing, Bard, and the code interpreter feature of ChatGPT. Utilizing these tools, and ChatGPT in particular, has been a game-changer for Zane. He employs it for everything from generating Power BI codes, and summarizing meetings to transforming non-formatted text into tables effortlessly. He’ll even use it to create workouts by sharing the equipment and time he has available and letting ChatGPT come up with the gameplan. Zane’s tips for integrating AI into one’s workflow involve experimentation and exploration. He encourages others to identify pain points and automate monotonous tasks, leveraging AI as a powerful tool alongside traditional software applications, treating it like an always available intern. Zane’s enthusiasm for AI integration in the commercial real estate industry is contagious. He eagerly awaits the launch of Microsoft CoPilot and its potential to revolutionize the way we use everything from Outlook and Excel to PowerPoint and Word. The prospect of AI interpreting images, PDFs, and other data sources to facilitate comprehensive analysis excites him. While acknowledging that the commercial real estate industry may be somewhat behind compared to Silicon Valley, Zane believes that embracing AI and making connections between tools and processes will help teams spend their time on what they do best.
Jake Goodman, Lease Administration Advisor
Jake Goodman, a member of Foundry’s lease administration team, understands the importance of effective communication and streamlining processes. When it comes to AI tools, he has primarily explored ChatGPT and Bing, always searching for reliable options that help him convey his message accurately. Bing, in particular, has served as a perfect test playground for him, as he finds it a trustworthy tool for his daily operations.
For Jake, the most helpful aspect of using ChatGPT is its ability to reword sentences and improve communication. Whether he is attempting to enhance his written communication or seeking assistance with Excel formulas, he finds ChatGPT to be user-friendly and straightforward. He advises those looking to integrate AI into their workflow to have fun with it, experimenting with different tools and leveraging their creativity to find new ways of utilizing AI effectively.
Jake is most excited about the integration of AI in lease abstractions, a crucial aspect of his job. Given the highly variable nature of leases and the importance of cybersecurity, Jake appreciates the opportunity to be a part of this exciting time in the industry. He believes that AI will not replace jobs but rather enhance them, allowing professionals to focus on more critical tasks and unleashing their creativity.
Charlie Howarth, Senior Associate
Charlie Howarth, Senior Associate on the California religious, education, and nonprofit team, has harnessed the power of AI, particularly ChatGPT, to enhance his work. By using AI tools, Charlie has discovered creative ways to improve his email communication, generate descriptions for brochures, and create tables from online data. He appreciates the assistance AI offers in overcoming writer’s block and providing different variations for his work.
For those considering integrating AI into their workflow, Charlie emphasizes the need for experimentation and coaching. AI tools require time and effort to achieve optimal results, and users should expect a learning curve. Although AI is not perfect, Charlie believes that it will continue to improve and become an indispensable part of people’s daily workflows in the years to come.
When asked about the impact of AI on his job and industry, Charlie highlights the versatility and potential it offers. AI can automate various tasks, such as generating property descriptions, thereby saving time and stimulating creativity. He looks forward to AI’s integration in virtual tours and the ability to streamline mundane tasks, allowing professionals to focus on more critical projects and enjoy their work.
Final Thoughts
As our industry adapts to integrating AI in our daily roles and processes, we are learning how to harness the power of these tools to enhance productivity and creativity. But every scale has a counterbalance. It’s crucial to exercise caution when using AI for content generation, double-checking sources and relying upon our own mastery of a subject when presenting ourselves as thought leaders. Responsible usage and diligent fact-checking are essential to ensure AI remains a valuable tool while maintaining the integrity of information dissemination. At Foundry, we encourage all employees to explore and experiment with AI tools, understanding that the true potential of AI lies in discovering new ways to integrate it into our workflow. By staying open to new possibilities, we can navigate the evolving landscape of technology and continue to lead in the commercial real estate industry.