In the latest episode of the Ready to Real Estate podcast, host and TRREB’s Chief Information Officer, Jason Mercer and Kevin Hawkins (aka the REAL AI Guy) explore how artificial intelligence is changing the real estate industry, with a focus on practical adoption, risk management, and the importance of using AI responsibly.

The podcast episode was recorded in front of a standing room only audience at TRREB REALTOR® QUEST 2026. Their vibrant conversation includes how AI is a time-saving tool for agents, choosing wisely between free-to-use consumer and business-grade programs, the essential need for trust, accuracy, and human oversight.

Kevin shares his vast experience as an author, speaker, and AI educator to provide sound advice and guidance for agents, brokers, and industry leaders looking to embrace new technology. Though there was an initial surge in use amongst real estate professionals, the AI boom has stagnated recently.

“Real estate agents and brokers have been at ground zero of AI,” says Kevin. “You were the fastest adopters of almost any industry in putting the tools like ChatGPT to work, doing listing descriptions, using it for marketing, responding on emails. But since that happened, we’re kind of lagging a little bit. And now it’s time to play catch up.”

However, a significant number of REALTORS® have not used AI at all. There is still a lot of fear out there and Kevin also helps real estate professionals overcome fears associated with AI.

“I found so many agents are absolutely scared to death of AI,” explains Kevin. “One of three, according to National Associated Realtors, haven’t used AI in the last 12 months . . . But the key is you have to use AI the right way, the best way, and fortunately, that’s also the safest way.”

He goes on to explain the risks and the importance of protecting client data, maintaining compliance, and preserving the human side of the profession – anyone using AI should be factchecking everything before making it public. As well, Kevin is adamant about choosing pay-for-use, business-oriented tools as a best practice for all professionals.

“Don’t live in a cut, paste, and prey world,” he says. “You are the human in the loop. You need to verify everything . . . And to me, the free tools in AI are the downside of real estate agents today. You don’t use a free tool for business.”

The pitfalls of using a free AI service are many, but it goes beyond the risk of a data breach. It could put you in violation of rules, regulations, and the law.

“Remember, if it’s free, you’re the product. And if you’re in real estate, so is your data,” Kevin warns. “If you look at the terms of agreement, they’ll scare you. Put the terms of agreement in AI and find out I might be in violation of some NAR code of ethics, or some actual MLS rules, or I might be violating some copyright regulations, because they own the copyright when I make the free tools. So that’s my big caution.”

Heeding Kevin’s valuable advice is a key to staying compliant and practicing safe AI use: something he preaches in all of his speaking engagements.

“You’re in charge, not the AI,” he notes. “Remember, artificial intelligence was created by humans. Right. is just as fallible as we are.”

Though this could be a scary proposition for many, he also notes that the benefits of using AI the right way could lead to some wonderful business relationships.

“Have a little fun with AI,” he says. “You can have fun and create things for your clients. You can create closing gifts with AI, that they’ll remember forever that it’ll have enormous impact. Those are the things we should do. Do the simple things that you know it can do, and you can benefit from. Things that save you time that you’re wasting time on to now. Today, the litany of things that are being done is just enormous.”

This timely discussion on the opportunities and pitfalls of AI in real estate provides valuable insight for all real estate professionals.