In this conversation, Michael Beckerman speaks with David Franklin, Industry Principal for AI at Yardi, about the transformative role of AI in commercial real estate. They explore Yardi’s forward-thinking approach to AI, the importance of industry-wide adoption, and how organizations can build a culture around experimentation and curiosity. David emphasizes the human element in leveraging AI technologies — highlighting the power of collaboration, trusted partnerships, and hands-on experimentation.

This discussion also sets the stage for David Franklin’s upcoming appearance at CREtech New York on October 21st (1:50–2:35 PM ET), where he will moderate the Main Stage session “AI & the Future of Enterprise: A 1:1 with Arpit Gupta, Assistant Professor of Finance at NYU,”. Together with Arpit, David will expand on how AI is redefining enterprise strategy, innovation, and the human role in the future of work.

Takeaways
- Yardi has been leveraging AI for years, long before it became mainstream.
- AI’s evolution has led to more human-centered interactions with technology.
- Widespread adoption of AI in real estate is essential to remain competitive.
- Experimentation is key — organizations must actively test and learn from AI tools.
- Collaboration with trusted advisors and software partners accelerates AI success.
- Building comfort and fluency with AI systems drives better adoption across teams.
- AI should be viewed as an augmentation of human intelligence, not a replacement.
- Fostering a culture of curiosity and experimentation encourages responsible AI use.
- The future of work depends on humans and AI working seamlessly together.
- AI can amplify human creativity, insight, and impact — turning potential into “superpowers.”