LAS VEGAS—Real estate is evolving rapidly, and innovation has become crucial for success in the industry. This was the message from panelists at RETCON 2025 in Las Vegas, who emphasized that those who thrive in the future will be those who can best leverage technology and innovation to drive business and team success.
Andrew Segal, Chairman & CEO of Boxer Property, stressed that adopting AI is no longer optional in today’s market. “It’s like saying, ‘I’m not going to use computers in real estate.’ That just isn’t an option anymore,” he said.
Panelist John Carlson, CEO of Mark-Taylor, Inc., echoed that sentiment, noting the significant investment in AI across the global real estate landscape. “The biggest players are making transformative investments in AI. We’ve always been a bit behind the curve, and we really need to shift our mindset to adapt to a world that’s changing rapidly,” Carlson said.
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Yao Morin, Chief Technology Officer at JLL, added that AI adoption is as crucial now as the adoption of phones and computers once was. “It’s revolutionary,” she said.
Building a culture of AI usage is key, according to the session’s moderator, Brad Hargreaves, founder of Thesis Driven. He pointed out that long-tenured employees often find it difficult to change the way they’ve been doing their jobs for decades.
Morin shared an example from JLL’s experience when they launched their version of ChatGPT, integrated with their own proprietary data. The result was impressive adoption, with 15,000 employees using it weekly. According to Morin, “The secret is having a product that works and investing in the training to help people understand its value. You need to invest in both the technology and the education surrounding it. Brokers and debt advisors at JLL often share how they use the tool with their teams, fostering a culture of learning and adoption.”
Koczwara pointed out that typically, it’s the naturally curious individuals who become leaders in adopting new technologies and showing others their potential. “Those are the people you incentivize and reward to teach the rest of the team,” she explained.
Carlson shared how Mark-Taylor challenged their corporate team to find efficiencies within their roles by utilizing AI. “We empowered our teams to improve not just their individual roles, but also their broader teams’ effectiveness through AI. It’s definitely made us more efficient,” he said.
Segal added that Boxer Property allows its employees to experiment and learn with AI. “We encourage our people to explore it. You can either get in line or use it to write your resume,” he said. “It’s not just an option anymore—it's essential. It’s a healthy way of looking at it. AI won’t replace your job, but the person who knows how to use it will. If you can’t adapt to AI now, you won’t be able to adapt elsewhere.”
This focus on innovation and AI, panelists agreed, is reshaping the real estate industry, and companies that embrace these changes will be better positioned for the future.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
