Multifamily owners are increasingly integrating AI into leasing, operations, and resident engagement, but industry experts warn that adoption must be deliberate, governed, and grounded in core literacy about how AI actually works.
At Multifamily NEXT in Dallas, leaders stressed AI literacy before scaling, noting AI is not a single technology but an ecosystem whose outputs depend on inputs, constraints, training, and governance. Without this foundation, tools can mislead or underperform.
Attendees learned that AI is an ecosystem, not a shortcut. Rather than chasing one platform, teams should match tools to tasks such as analysis, automation, and decision support, across 166 demonstrated tools, with emphasis on using the right tool for the right job.
Security and governance emerged as central business issues. HUD guidance on the Fair Housing Act and the push toward SOC 2 compliance underscore that owners remain accountable for outcomes when AI is used, even if a third-party vendor runs the technology on their behalf.
Risk is now operational. As one participant observed, management companies are liable for what partners do, making governance and vendor vetting nonnegotiable reality, not optional, and requiring accountability at all organizational levels.
Hands-on learning reinforced accountability. Real-time testing and evaluation of AI tools helped attendees see capabilities and limits, bridging theory and practice and reinforcing guardrails and durable knowledge as AI becomes part of infrastructure.
Looking ahead, executives must lead AI strategy, with a focus on fundamentals first. Multifamily NEXT plans nine-city tours in 2026 to build executive-level AI competency among leaders across the sector.
