Survey: AI trust lags for decision making among CRE execs
Commercial real estate professionals are using artificial intelligence on a consistent basis – but not when it comes to the decision making process.
According to the new CRE Industry Pulse Check report from First American Data & Analytics and DealGround, two-thirds (66%) of executives use AI weekly or daily, but only 5% trust it enough to inform commercial real estate deal decisions. More than half (53%) of respondents say they use AI for support only and exclude it from final decision-making, while another 17% say they use it only with heavy verification.
For respondents who have not adopted AI more aggressively, the survey found that the biggest barriers are practical and trust-based. A third (34%) of commercial real estate professionals say they do not know which tools to use, while 32% cite concerns about accuracy. By contrast, only 5% say cost or unclear ROI is the main obstacle.
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“AI adoption in commercial real estate is no longer the question – trust is,” said Matt Key, VP of property data at First American Data & Analytics. “Professionals are using AI, but only if the outputs are verifiable and the data is reliable. Closing this gap is what will move AI from a productivity tool to a decision-making engine.”
The report noted that the “next wave of value” for commercial real estate professionals using AI lies in execution. These functions include automating manual transaction and closing processes (33%) and delivering reliable rent and sales comps in “thin or opaque” markets (25%).
“Those priorities highlight where the market needs to go next,” added Key. “Commerical real estate professionals are not asking for more features pp they are looking for less friction, more consistency and greater confidence in the underlying data and information. The stronger the data foundation, the more useful and trustworthy AI becomes.”
First American Data & Analytics and DealGround’s survey was fielded between March 31 and April 8, 2026, among 255 qualified commercial real estate professionals across brokerage, lending and capital markets, development and asset management.
