AI IN THE NEWS
Breakthroughs and Breakdowns
Microsoft says “a genuine step toward medical superintelligence,” and that their powerful new AI tool can diagnose diseasefour times more accurately and at significantly less cost than a panel of human physicians they have taken. The experiment tested whether the tool could accurately diagnose a patient and by all accounts, it did pretty well.
On the other hand, Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 3.7 (aka Claudius) was put in charge of running a small office vending machine business for about a month. The results were widely described as both hilarious and revealing about the current limitations of AI in real-world business management, including the fact that Claude experienced an ‘AI breakdown’, ultimately convincing itself that the entire project was an April Fool’s joke.
QUICK TIP
The “Voice Note Hack” for Better AI Responses
Since I started using Wispr Flow, I've become increasingly lazy with my typing, especially when it comes to long prompts and setting context. If you are reluctant to add yet another subscription to your tech stack, try this:
Open ChatGPT mobile app
Hold the voice button and explain what you need, like you're talking to a colleague.
Let it transcribe, then add "Please make this request clearer and more specific"
Use the improved prompt for better results.
Why it works: We naturally include more context when speaking than when typing…
OpenAI's Pitch to Power Australia
This ‘blog’ (are they still called blogs?) is a space where I try to keep the vibe as global as possible, but when OpenAI drops a 16-page "Economic Blueprint" for Australia, I guess it’s OK to have one moment every now and then of focusing a little closer to home.
The report, penned by OpenAI's APAC policy head, Sandy Kunvatanagarn, promises AI could unlock A$115 billion in annual economic gains by 2030 and comes complete with a "10-Point AI Action Plan" for Australia.
Think of it as OpenAI's job application to become Australia's AI partner of choice.
The timing of this isn’t subtle – Australia is crafting national AI policies, and OpenAI wants a seat at the table.
But if you look past the self-promo, some genuinely relevant insights apply just as much to the real estate industry as anyone else.
1. $80b in Productivity improvements by 2030
The report projects AI will contribute A$115 billion annually to Australia's economy by 2030 (about A$3,925 per person).
For real estate, this likely means:
Property businesses that adopt AI early could capture a disproportionate market share (some already are)
AI agents handling routine tasks will free professionals for higher-value advisory work (this is already happening too)
Automated valuation, documentation, and compliance could slash transaction times (I’m a wait and see on this one, but hopeful)
2. Australia could be the APAC Trusted AI Infrastructure Hub
The report positions Australia as having a strategic opportunity to become "the Indo-Pacific's trusted hub for AI infrastructure," offering democratic leadership in a time of rising global uncertainty.
This includes becoming a trusted partner for AI infrastructure, standards, and responsible deployment across the region. To support this ambition, the report notes:
Data centre capacity will more than double from 1,350 MW to 3,100 MW by 2030
A$26 billion in additional investment is expected
8,300 new jobs will be created in the sector.
Why could this be good for real estate:
Australia becoming a regional AI hub could:
Drive demand for premium data centre sites that meet international security and sovereignty requirements
Create new "tech embassy" zones where regional partners can securely house their data
Establish Australia as the preferred location for multinational tech companies serving Asia-Pacific
Generate sustained, long-term demand for infrastructure-ready land
Position certain Australian cities as regional tech hubs, driving both commercial and residential demand
3. Modernise Government Operations
The report identifies government service delivery as ripe for transformation, noting that "the non-market sector has suffered from stagnant productivity since the early 2000s." In 2024, Australians lost 9.8 million hours (averaging 1.6 hours per person) on hold with government agencies.
The report showcases international examples where partnering with Open AI has made significant gains in productivity:
Pennsylvania partnered with OpenAI, saving public servants over an hour per day on routine tasks
Singapore adopted a startup-style model to crowdsource ideas and scale AI tools across the public sector
Minnesota uses ChatGPT Enterprise to improve multilingual service delivery
Of course, you would expect there would be some recommendations for our Government from this report, which include
1. "Government Data is Locked Away" The report identifies that valuable government data is "underutilised for AI innovation and public policy."
Their solution (remembering AI loves data):
Open up public datasets, especially for housing, energy, education and social services
Fast-track data access through the Data Availability and Transparency Act
Review overly restrictive data classifications
For real estate, this could unlock property data, development patterns, demographic trends, and more.
2. "Government Lacks AI Capability" The report notes ", AI capability within government is limited and not coordinated."
Their suggested fix:
Create a central AI agency to champion adoption and cut red tape
Train all public servants in AI (called "APS uplift")
Give government workers AI tools to experiment with safely
Reward the best government AI innovations
For real estate, this might mean staff who can deliver AI-powered planning approvals faster.
3. "Procurement Rules Block Innovation" The report states, "Government procurement processes are outdated and slow AI adoption."
Their approach:
Modernise procurement with fast-track pilot pathways (citing NSW's Test and Buy Innovation Guidelines)
Create pre-approved AI vendor lists
The report presents all of these as interconnected reforms – you need the data, the skilled people, AND the ability to adopt new tools quickly. Together, they could transform how the government interacts with all sectors.
The Blueprint's Real Message
OpenAI is essentially telling Australia: "Act now or get left behind."
They're pushing for AI literacy in schools, tax incentives for businesses adopting AI, and massive infrastructure investment.
It's aggressive positioning ahead of what they see as an "inflexion point" – countries that move fast on AI will win, and others will lose. Their blueprint conveniently concludes that more AI (specifically, their AI) is the answer to Australia's productivity woes.
Y’all know I love using and unlocking efficiency with AI…
But today, I once again want to play a little devil’s advocate, particularly when the subject matter is this close to home. And let’s face it, that little contrast between the success and failure of AI at the beginning of this newsletter is exactly where we are at.
At this year's AREC conference, US Vice President Kamala Harris posed the critical question OpenAI's blueprint conveniently sidesteps: "Is AI working in the public interest?"
Her warning resonates: "It is invisible to most people, but it is making significant decisions about everything from public health to financial policy."
US VP Kamala Harris at AREC 2025 (my own photo)
In real estate, that could mean AI deciding who gets approved for rentals, which properties get shown to which buyers, or how neighbourhoods get valued.
Sometimes it feels a little like an episode of Black Mirror.
The Smart Path Forward: AI With, Not Instead Of
But Harris also pointed to the solution: "Innovation in bringing people along... to transition the skills of today into the skills that are necessary for this new era."
For my real estate friends, this means:
Augment, Don't Replace
Use AI for after-hours coverage, not to replace the human touches (those you should double down on)
Perhaps let AI handle data analysis while humans handle negotiations
Automate the paperwork, personalise the relationships
Upskill Your Team Now
Train admin staff to manage AI tools, not compete with them
Create new roles: AI prompt specialists, digital experience managers
Treat AI as a creative partner or a collaborator, not an outsourced employee
The Harris Test: Ask yourself:
Is this AI deployment making our service more human or less?
Are we creating better jobs or just eliminating existing ones?
Would our clients trust a robot with this decision?
The Bottom Line
OpenAI wants Australia to go all-in on AI – surprise, surprise. The agencies that will thrive aren't those that replace their people with chatbots, but those that use AI to empower their people to be even more human.
Because when that nervous first-home buyer needs reassurance at 11 pm, they want to know a human will be there in the morning – even if an AI acknowledges their message that night.
That’s it for today 🚀
Samantha McLean | Co-founder of Elite Agent
Creator of 30 Days of Practical Property Prompts
Creator of The Complete Conversion System
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P.S. Need an intro to AI for Real Estate? Take the Crash Course and avoid the five biggest mistakes agents are making with AI.
🔒 AI Ethics Reminder: Never input client names, addresses, or identifying information into public AI tools. Always anonymise data or use private enterprise versions for sensitive information. Your clients trust you with their data - honour that trust.
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