podcast

Real Estate Meets AI

Conversations at the intersection of buildings and intelligence.

Demystifying how AI is reshaping the built environment — one idea-packed episode at a time.

Latest Episode

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Dave Gise, Senior Vice President and Head of Hospitality, Amenities, and AI at RXR, the firm behind a $17 billion portfolio that includes 75 Rockefeller Plaza. Dave’s path to leading AI didn’t start in tech. It started in personal training, community building, and a career-long obsession with elevating the human experience.

He walks through how RXR is applying AI across its residential and commercial portfolio, from a custom GPT that helps property teams craft better, faster incident responses to Tulu, an AI-driven amenity platform that residents have ranked number one in multiple buildings. He also makes the case that embedding AI into a company isn’t a technology problem. It’s a cultural one, and it starts with one-on-one training, executive buy-in, and the patience to meet every person where they are.

If you’re thinking about what AI-powered hospitality actually looks like in practice, or how to bring an entire organization along for the ride, this one’s worth your time.

Episode Gallery

#15 A Conversation with John Birdsong & Lucas Roberts from South Downtown Atlanta

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Jon Birdsong, CEO of South Downtown Atlanta, and Lucas Roberts, Director of Architecture and Design at South Downtown Atlanta, to unpack one of the most ambitious urban revitalization bets in the country: rebuilding 16 acres of historic buildings in Atlanta’s original downtown core.

They get into running an entire neighborhood like a startup, where AI and technology actually fit into development today, and the hard work of bringing century-old buildings back to life, all timed to Atlanta’s turn hosting the World Cup.

Whether you’re developing, investing, designing, or simply rethinking what a city core can be, this conversation offers a candid, ground-level look at what it really takes to bring a neighborhood back to life.

#14 A Conversation with Sam Chandan, PhD from NYU

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Dr. Sam Chandan, professor at NYU Stern and founder of Chandan Economics, to explore how AI is reshaping real estate, the labor market, and the way we prepare the next generation of leaders.

Sam shares his honest read on where commercial real estate stands on AI adoption today, why a willingness to experiment marks a real shift for the industry, and what separates the firms making progress from those still on the sidelines.

They also dig into how AI is already showing up in white collar labor data, why bipedal robotics could be the next major disruption to the built environment, and where Sam sees both the biggest opportunities and the most significant risks ahead.

Whether you’re leading strategy or rethinking workforce planning, this conversation offers a grounded perspective from one of the most respected voices at the intersection of real estate, economics, and AI.

#13 A Conversation with Arpit Gupta (NYU Stern) and James Scott (MIT)

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja is joined by two guests who live at the crossroads of research and real estate: Arpit Gupta, Associate Professor of Finance at NYU Stern, and James Robert Scott, Director of the Real Estate Transformation Lab at MIT.

Arpit shares how he built AI tools to structure messy zoning codes into usable data at national scale. James explores where AI is creating real value on the ground, including tools that analyze public meeting sentiment to help developers navigate approvals. Together, they rate where the industry stands on AI adoption, why real estate faces unique challenges, and what practical steps leaders can take right now.

Whether you’re a real estate professional figuring out where to start with AI or a researcher exploring what’s possible, this episode connects the dots between academic insight and industry reality.

#12 A Conversation with Will O'Donnell from Prologis

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Will O’Donnell, Managing Director and Head of Global Corporate Development and Growth at Prologis, and founder of Prologis Ventures, to explore how the world’s largest logistics real estate company is evolving from four walls and a roof into an intelligent infrastructure platform.

Will shares what he’s learned from 22 years inside Prologis and backing 53 startups through the venture arm, from why clean data became a company-wide mandate to how nearly the entire organization now uses AI on a daily basis. He breaks down what it actually takes to move from experimentation to enterprise-wide adoption — and why digitizing a bad process just gives you a digital bad process.

They dig into the strategic logic behind Prologis’s $25 billion commitment to data centers, including a new partnership with Nvidia to explore micro data centers for distributed AI. The conversation also covers what’s changing on the warehouse floor, where automation and computer vision are reshaping operations, and why change management remains the hardest part of any technology rollout.

Whether you’re navigating AI strategy inside a large organization or investing in what’s next for the built environment, this episode offers a grounded, practical perspective from someone with a front-row seat to the transformation.

#11 Alex Wolkomir from McKinsey & Company

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Alex Wolkomir, Partner at McKinsey & Company, to talk about what AI adoption looks like from the inside, through the lens of someone advising the largest real estate firms in the world.

Alex co-authored McKinsey’s landmark report on generative AI in real estate and shares why the numbers have only gotten bigger since. He makes the case for why use cases are actually the wrong way to think about AI adoption, and why redesigning workflows end to end is where the real opportunity lies.

They explore the areas gaining the most traction today, from leasing automation to maintenance triage, and what leaders need to get right to actually capture that value. The conversation also gets into the tension between automation and human judgment — and why protecting the moments that matter is just as important as automating the ones that don’t.

Whether you’re leading innovation or just figuring out where to start, this episode is for you.

Read McKinsey’s latest article on how agentic AI is reshaping real estate’s operating model at www.mckinsey.com/industries/real-estate/our-insights

#10 | Danny Klein from JLL Spark

In this Season 2 premiere, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Danny Klein, Growth Partner at JLL Spark, the venture arm of JLL, to unpack where AI is truly gaining traction across real estate — and where it’s still early.

Danny shares what he’s seeing after evaluating hundreds of AI startups, from tools accelerating leasing conversations to enterprise platforms layering real estate context onto large language models. They explore how firms are moving beyond experimentation and what it takes to translate AI from insight into action.

The conversation also looks ahead to emerging opportunities in robotics and physical AI, and why getting your data house in order may be the most important move leaders can make right now.

Whether you’re investing in innovation or navigating change inside a large organization, this episode offers a grounded perspective on what’s real, what’s hype, and what’s next.

#9 | Bill Douglas from OpticWise

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Bill Douglas, CEO of OpticWise, to unpack why diligence and data are becoming essential in today’s property transactions. Bill shares how having the right information upfront can reduce risk, strengthen investment decisions, and reveal the true value of an asset.

They discuss the rise of data lakes in due-diligence workflows, the role of continuous monitoring, and how sensor-driven insights can improve operations and even lead to better insurance outcomes. Bill also offers practical guidance for owners and operators looking to modernize their approach to property management.

Whether you’re evaluating acquisitions or managing an active portfolio, this conversation delivers clear insights on how data intelligence is reshaping the real estate landscape.

Check out Bill’s book, Peak Property Performance – AI & Digital Strategies for CRE, here.

#8 | KP Reddy from Shadow Ventures

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with KP Reddy, Founder and CEO of Shadow Ventures, to explore how AI and technology are reshaping the AEC industry. KP shares why the future of the industry depends not just on transforming existing processes but on rethinking business models to fully integrate technology.

They discuss the current state of AI adoption across architecture, engineering, and construction, the role owners play in driving meaningful change, and why operational costs need to be part of early project conversations. KP also offers practical guidance for leaders looking to embrace AI, build innovative teams, and prepare their firms for what’s next.

Whether you’re leading strategy or navigating digital change, this conversation delivers sharp insights from one of the industry’s most influential voices in tech and innovation.

#7 | Jit Kee Chin from Suffolk Construction

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Jit Kee Chin, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President at Suffolk Construction, to explore how AI is transforming the construction industry. Jit Kee shares how Suffolk is leveraging machine vision and predictive analytics to enhance safety and performance while navigating the challenges of innovation at scale.

They also discuss leading change in a large organization, fostering a culture of experimentation, and the future of data standardization in construction.

Whether you’re advancing digital strategy or rethinking project delivery, this conversation offers candid insights and forward-looking perspectives from one of the industry’s top technology leaders.

#6 | Carrie Denning Jackson and Ernie Massei from Jamestown

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja is joined by Carrie Denning Jackson and Ernie Massei from Jamestown to unpack how AI is transforming real estate from the inside out. They dive into the evolution of AI adoption across the industry, Jamestown’s pioneering initiatives—including the development of their internal AI assistant, ChatJT—and the operational efficiencies these tools unlock.

The conversation also explores the legal and compliance hurdles that come with deploying AI, strategies for rolling out new technology at scale, and how leaders can stay ahead in a rapidly changing landscape.

Whether you’re integrating AI into your organization or shaping long-term strategy, this discussion offers actionable insights from the forefront of innovation in real estate.

#5 | A Conversation with Antony Slumbers

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Antony Slumbers, a recognized PropTech visionary, to explore how AI is reshaping the foundations of real estate. Antony unpacks why the industry must move beyond traditional business models and embrace service-oriented approaches to remain competitive.

They discuss how AI is democratizing access to services, the critical role of education in cultivating sharper thinking skills, and the mindset shifts real estate leaders need to thrive in a fast-changing environment.

Whether you’re leading strategy, reimagining tenant experience, or preparing your organization for transformation, this conversation delivers sharp insights and a forward-looking perspective from one of the most influential voices in PropTech.

#4 | Colin Joynt from BXP, Inc.

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Colin Joynt, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at BXP, to examine how AI is reshaping the real estate industry. Colin shares how BXP is approaching AI adoption, from practical use cases and data-driven decision-making to fostering cross-functional collaboration.

They explore the importance of creating a safe environment for innovation, why curiosity is essential in leadership, and how to navigate the rapid pace of technological change.

Whether you’re driving digital strategy or preparing your team for the next wave of disruption, this conversation offers candid insights and forward-looking guidance from a leader helping to shape the future of real estate.

#3 | Douglas Pearce from Waterton

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Douglas Pearce, Executive Vice President of Information Technology at Waterton, to explore how AI is transforming the real estate industry—particularly in multifamily housing.

Doug shares how his team is leveraging AI to streamline operations, from automating rent collection communications to expediting maintenance requests, and why successful adoption starts with strong data management. They discuss the opportunities and risks that come with integrating AI, the importance of change management, and the realities behind adoption rates in the sector.

Whether you’re leading digital transformation or navigating rapid shifts in technology, this conversation offers practical insights and forward-looking advice from an industry leader at the forefront of innovation.

#2 | Rukevbe Esi from AvalonBay Communities

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja sits down with Rukevbe “Rukus” Esi, SVP and Chief Digital Officer at AvalonBay Communities, to explore how one of the nation’s largest real estate investment trusts is putting AI to work.

They discuss AvalonBay’s approach to enhancing both the customer experience and internal operations through AI, and how organizational mindset plays a key role in driving meaningful tech adoption. Rukus shares real-world insights on aligning teams, overcoming implementation challenges, and building future-ready systems in an evolving industry.

Whether you’re scaling digital initiatives or rethinking what innovation looks like in real estate, this episode offers valuable guidance from the front lines of transformation.

#1 | Keats Ali from Lincoln Property Company

In this episode, Sandeep Ahuja is joined by Keats Ali, Chief Technology Officer at Lincoln Property Company, to talk about how AI is being applied across real estate today. From practical applications to leadership strategies, they explore what it takes to bring new technology into an established industry.

Keats shares insights on improving the customer experience with AI, overcoming change management hurdles, and building a culture that embraces innovation.

Whether you’re leading tech initiatives or just starting to explore AI, this conversation offers clear, actionable takeaways for the real estate world.

What to Expect

Real talk with leaders, innovators, and doers across the built world — focused on how AI is actually showing up in the industry today.

Whether you’re a developer, investor, architect, or technologist — if you care about how buildings and AI are evolving together, this is your podcast.

No hype. No jargon. Just smart, fast conversations.

Hosted by Sandeep Ahuja

Co-Founder and CEO of cove

A trained architect turned entrepreneur, Sandeep brings a bold, informed perspective to every conversation — shaped by her experience building technology and bridging architecture and innovation across the built world.

Where's Real Estate on the AI Curve?

Each guest answers: “Where is the industry today when it comes to AI?” See where they place the industry on a scale from resistance to leadership. New voices are added regularly. The story evolves with every conversation.