There is a lot of noise these days about artificial intelligence, and one of the most common tools people are using is ChatGPT. Whether you are curious, cautious, or already experimenting with it, AI is here to stay, and it has the potential to make your business far more efficient if used the right way. This week, I want to share a balanced perspective on how AI can help you, along with a few words of caution to keep you grounded.
At the most basic level, ChatGPT can help you move faster. It can draft emails, polish client communications, summarize documents, outline listing descriptions, brainstorm marketing ideas, and help you find the right words when your mind hits a wall. These simple tasks alone can save you hours each week and free up the time you need for higher value activities. Think about all the small pieces of your day that pull you in different directions. AI can quietly remove a good portion of that clutter.
Where it gets more interesting is at a higher level. ChatGPT can help you strategize your business plan, build drip campaigns, design touch points for your sphere, analyze your lead sources, create systems for follow up, role play scripts, and sharpen your messaging. It can also act as a sounding board when you are preparing for a listing appointment or working through a negotiation scenario. For many agents, having a resource that can instantly draft content, create structure, and bring clarity to an idea is a competitive advantage that did not exist a year ago.
But there is a difference between using a tool and becoming dependent on it. That is where caution becomes important. ChatGPT is powerful, but it is not perfect. It can produce inaccurate information, misunderstand local real estate nuances, and generate assumptions that do not always align with California law or Intero’s standards. It cannot replace your professional judgment, your fiduciary duty, or your responsibility to understand the details of a contract. You are still accountable for what you communicate to a client. AI can assist, but it cannot protect you from making a mistake.
Another point of caution involves personal voice. If your message sounds automated or generic, your clients will feel it. AI should enhance your communication, not replace your authenticity. Make sure the final product still sounds like you. Think of ChatGPT as the assistant who drafts the first version, and you are the one who gives it tone, accuracy, and purpose.
Finally, remember that AI cannot replace the human connection that drives our business. It cannot build relationships, read the room during a listing presentation, or build trust in the same way you can. It can help you prepare, but you are still the one standing in front of the client, demonstrating your value.
AI is here, and if used wisely, it can make you more productive, more organized, and more effective. My encouragement is to approach it with curiosity, use it as a tool, keep your professional standards high, and always apply your own judgment. The agents who blend technology with authentic human service are going to be the ones who move the needle the furthest.
If you would like help learning how to integrate ChatGPT into your workflow, training is available, and I encourage you to experiment. Spend some time perusing YouTube, and you’ll be amazed at how many resources are offered. This is an exciting time in our industry, and tools like AI can help you stay ahead of the curve while giving you more time to focus on what matters most.
TERRY Talks 