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The Mismatch Between AI Priorities and Returns in Commercial Real Estate

In an evolving landscape dominated by technological advancements, commercial real estate (CRE) investors are facing striking challenges in aligning their artificial intelligence (AI) efforts with substantial returns. A recent survey conducted by JLL illustrates that despite significant investment in AI, many strategies aren’t generating expected outcomes. Around 83% of investors have moved past initial testing phases of AI implementation; however, a majority have discovered that the areas they prioritize for AI are not where they find optimal returns.

Key Findings from the 2026 Global AI Survey

Investment Focus Misalignment: While 49% of investors aim to leverage AI for enhanced performance and capital deployment capabilities, the best results are emerging from asset and property management, which surprisingly are ranked lower in priorities. The survey revealed that 66% of participants noted enhanced efficiency from property management processes driven by AI, while 57% saw improved decision-making quality.

The Rise of Agentic Workflows: Despite acknowledging the benefits of AI, only 15% of investors have implemented custom agentic workflows aimed at maximizing AI benefits throughout all deployment areas. This lack of tailored strategies contributes to a competitive landscape where many firms achieve similar outcomes using identical tools and data.

The Organizational Shift with AI Adoption

As AI becomes more accessible, the hurdles for real estate entities are transitioning from mere access to effective integration into core operations. By 2025, a staggering 88% of surveyed investors were still testing AI initiatives. Fast forward to the present day, 40% of these investors report successfully embedding AI across multiple business functions, showing a noticeable shift in adoption.

Talent and Competitive Edge: The survey sheds light on the acknowledgement among investors that talent remains crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. Nonetheless, fewer than a quarter are utilizing AI to foster this talent.

An Overview of AI Readiness: A concerning finding is that 59% of investors with AI-unready data face obstacles in reaping meaningful benefits, as opposed to just 21% who have established proper data governance and readiness practices. This disparity highlights data management's critical role in the benefits derived from AI.

Re-evaluating AI Strategies

Alexandra Bryant, Global CEO of Value Risk Advisory at JLL, emphasizes that investors must reassess their AI strategies through a value retention perspective. As standard processes like underwriting become common practice, unique value creation will dwindle.

In markets where efficiency connects directly to net operating income or asset value, optimizing AI deployment becomes essential.

The Future of AI in CRE

The growing pressures from this technology's rapid adoption are imparting considerable organizational transformations. A staggering 69% of investors report feeling direct pressure from AI's influences on competition, talent acquisition, costs, and operational shifts. In this environment, hiring dedicated AI talent is becoming the norm, with 88% of investors now engaging specialists or external advisors to bolster in-house capabilities.

Conclusion: Navigating the complex interplay between AI deployment and performance outcomes will become a decisive factor for success in the evolving CRE landscape. Firms that can craft bespoke agentic workflows—rather than merely relying on off-the-shelf AI tools—will likely maintain an edge in the crowded marketplace. Real estate investors are reminded not just to adopt AI, but to challenge existing paradigms and prioritize the integration of data with innovative workflows to unlock its full potential.