This week’s edition of Tech Trends features artificial intelligence, deepfake detection and predictive analytics.
A New App on Mr. Altman’s Platform. Zillow (NASDAQ: Z, ZG) announced it has become the first and only real estate app available in ChatGPT.
According to the company, users can ask questions or make requests in ChatGPT regarding real estate listings. The Zillow app in ChatGPT can deliver listings, complete with photos, maps and pricing, and guides the user back into Zillow to schedule a tour, connect with an agent or explore financing.
“As people increasingly turn to conversational AI to make their lives easier, Zillow is bringing that same simplicity to the home journey within ChatGPT,” said David Beitel, Zillow’s chief technology officer. “Our goal is to make it feel simple, intuitive and approachable. Partnering with OpenAI puts Zillow at the forefront of generative AI adoption; this builds on years of work as we continue to use AI to simplify and improve the path from searching for a home to actually unlocking the door.”
A Faster Way to Search. Realtor.com announced the launch of its AI-powered search tool that is designed to let people find homes the way they speak and type.
According to the company, the new feature uses AI technology to analyze and interpret listing details, with users having the ability to mix typing and the site’s search filters. The new AI-powered search is designed to filter over 300 different terms and tags, offering searches that can turn requests made using colloquial speech into personalized and relevant results.
“At Realtor.com, we know how overwhelming finding the perfect home can be and ‘search it, how you say it’ AI-powered search is one of many new features we will launch to make it less overwhelming,” said Mickey Neuberger, Realtor.com chief consumer and marketing officer. “This new feature fundamentally changes how you search. You no longer need to click through endless listing photos to find a home with high ceilings or hardwood floors or a fenced in yard. Instead, just type it in how you would say it and results are provided instantly.”
No Deepfakes Here. Secured Signing, a provider of digital signatures and remote online notarization technology, has rolled out Realify, a new feature designed to protect businesses and their clients from the threat of deepfake fraud during remote online notarizations and video signing sessions.
According to the company, Realify can analyze a person’s video and audio in real time to determine if they are “real” or an AI-generated deepfake. The feature creates a secure, verifiable scan of the signer’s face and voice, classifying the result as Authentic, Suspicious, or Fake. This process protects all parties involved from legal and financial risk.
“Deepfake fraud isn’t a future problem – it’s happening right now,” says Mike Eyal, CEO of Secured Signing. “Notaries and their clients are increasingly at risk. With billions of dollars already lost to this type of fraud, the question is no longer ‘if,’ but ‘when’ they will be targeted. Realify provides an essential shield, ensuring the person on your screen is who they claim to be, giving notaries the peace of mind they need to perform their duties securely.”
Taking Out the Guesswork. The Austin-based proptech 9D Insights has introduced its Intelligence-Driven Relationship Platform, designed to empower real estate professionals with predictive analytics.
According to the company, the core of the platform is the proprietary “9 Ds Framework” – death, divorce, downsizing, debt, diapers, diplomas, diamonds, destinations, and disaster – which account for the nine pivotal life transitions responsible for driving approximately 85% of all property transactions. By detecting these life events and scoring their potential impact, the platform gives agents a measurable edge in identifying motivated sellers and buyers before they enter the market.
“Real estate is about understanding life change,” said John Cronin, CEO at 9D Insights. “Our mission is to bring that intelligence to every agent – giving them access to the kind of data-driven insights that were once reserved for the biggest firms. We’re turning life moments into market moments.”
