Puerto Rico weighs AI’s role as commercial real estate evolves
Artificial intelligence is beginning to take on a more defined and strategic role in the commercial real estate industry, moving beyond early experimentation toward targeted uses intended to generate long-term value, according to JLL’s 2025 Global Real Estate Technology Survey.
Melissa Montero, former president of the Puerto Rico Association of Realtors, said AI is being used on the island primarily as a marketing tool in the real estate sector. In an interview with News is my Business, Montero said the technology has changed how properties are presented but has not replaced the human element of real estate transactions.
“AI has a positive impact on marketing,” Montero said. “It provides a virtual experience that allows people to explore projects and properties, but it doesn’t replace the warmth of a person showing a property.”
The JLL survey, which includes responses from more than 1,500 senior investors and corporate real estate decision-makers across 16 global markets, found that while overall AI maturity remains relatively low, companies are increasingly directing budget resources toward AI initiatives.
Many organizations are now testing multiple AI applications at the same time, reflecting a shift from narrow productivity improvements toward broader business growth strategies.
According to the report, 88% of investors, owners and landlords have launched AI pilot programs, typically testing an average of five use cases simultaneously. Among occupiers, 92% reported piloting AI within their corporate real estate operations. The findings suggest that AI is increasingly viewed as a tool for maintaining competitiveness in the sector.
At the same time, the expanding use of AI in real estate has prompted regulatory and consumer protection concerns. The U.S. Government Accountability Office, in a recent WatchBlog post, warned that AI-powered real estate and lending tools could conflict with fair lending and fair housing laws, as well as with privacy protections.
The GAO said AI is already being used by lenders to analyze documents such as employment and payroll records during mortgage underwriting. It cautioned, however, that a broader reliance on AI in loan decision-making could reduce transparency and reinforce existing biases in mortgage approvals.
In a separate report, “Rental Housing: Use and Federal Oversight of Property Technology,” the GAO said digital tools, including algorithms and AI, are increasingly used for tenant screening, rent setting and advertising. While such technologies can improve efficiency and security, including through facial recognition systems for building access, the agency said they also raise concerns related to privacy and discrimination.
Federal agencies have begun addressing those risks by issuing guidance on applying fair housing laws to AI-driven tenant screening, the GAO said. The agency recommended stronger oversight, particularly regarding the use of facial recognition technologies in public housing.
