- Investor concerns over AI disruption have emerged as commercial real estate deal activity picks up.
- CEOs of CBRE, Colliers, and Marcus & Millichap stress that relationship-building and complex transactions are resistant to full AI automation.
- AI is currently seen as a tool for productivity and efficiency, not a replacement for higher-value advisory services.
- Analysts suggest AI poses limited immediate threat to leasing and transaction roles but could impact some mid- and low-skill jobs.
Industry Leaders Address AI Disruption
As commercial real estate (CRE) deals rebound in the US, concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) are surfacing, per CoStar. Share prices of several listed CRE brokerages dipped earlier in the week after investor fears of AI-driven automation, before stabilizing again. Executives from major firms—including CBRE, Colliers, and Marcus & Millichap—took the opportunity on recent earnings calls to clarify their positions on AI disruption in commercial real estate.
Human Element Remains Central
The CEOs were unanimous that the core of CRE—long-term client relationships and strategic dealmaking—remains uniquely human. CBRE’s Bob Sulentic emphasized that complex transactions require skills beyond what AI currently offers. Colliers’ Jay Hennick added that while AI can automate routine work and increase productivity, it enhances rather than replaces the expertise and judgment of experienced professionals. Marcus & Millichap’s Hessam Nadji described the concerns as “overly cautious,” highlighting the difficulty for AI to replicate the nuanced skills required in CRE services.
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AI Yields Efficiency, Not Job Elimination
Despite the initial investor reaction, industry leaders and analysts see AI as a net positive for commercial real estate operations so far. Productivity improvements are being realized in underwriting and analytics, with processes that once took hours now accomplished in minutes. However, key advisory and negotiation tasks remain dominated by brokers and relationship managers. Some analysts suggest lower-level, repetitive roles could face more automation, but high-value functions anchored in client trust and strategy are less vulnerable to AI disruption concerns. Similar concerns are also emerging in the office sector, where questions about AI-driven workplace shifts are influencing how landlords and investors assess long-term demand.
What Comes Next
AI disruption will continue to evolve across CRE, especially in back-office tasks and data management. For now, major brokerages are reporting stronger deal activity and expect recovery to accelerate in 2026. Executive teams are positioning AI as an efficiency tool that augments, but does not replace, the fundamental client service and complex dealmaking that defines the industry. Tracking the integration and impact of AI will remain a top priority as commercial real estate adapts to new technology trends.
