Human-Centricity: Our Superpower in an AI-Mediated World

Midjourney / Antony Slumbers

"The future is already here – it's just not evenly distributed."

— William Gibson

If you work in commercial real estate, you know change is afoot. Generative AI, from ChatGPT to Midjourney, is rewriting the rules at a dizzying pace. Suddenly, machines can handle tasks we thought uniquely human - writing, analysis, even creative ideation. It's thrilling, but also unsettling. Where do we fit in this brave new world?

I believe the answer lies in doubling down on our humanity. In a world increasingly mediated by AI, being unabashedly human-centric will be our superpower. From how we think as individuals to the spaces we create and cities we build, putting humans first is how we'll harness these extraordinary machine capabilities for the greater good.

The Human Mindset

Let's start with our own minds. As AI takes over more cognitive tasks, it's tempting to fixate on the tech - to rush to automate everything we can. But as Picasso presciently noted, "Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.”

Our value lies in asking the right questions. In bringing empathy, imagination, and wisdom to bear on how we deploy AI. We need to think critically about what we automate and why. To consider the human impacts and ethical implications. To use our judgment to oversee and guide these powerful tools.

So cultivate curiosity. Hone your creativity. Practice reflection and critical thinking. The more you develop these uniquely human capacities, the better you can steer AI toward truly beneficial ends.

The Human-Centric Workplace

Now, consider your office. As hybrid work erodes old norms, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink corporate space. But without guiding principles we risk automating for automation's sake - creating offices that are efficient yet soulless.

A human-centric #SpaceAsAService model provides a compass. It means tailoring spaces (via AI and other tech) to maximise user health, productivity and delight. Leveraging AI for hyper-personalisation that makes each worker feel seen and supported. Designing for serendipity, social connection, and creative collisions.

Imagine an office that reconfigures itself daily to suit the task and teams at hand. That nudges you when you need a screen break or pulls up key details before a meeting. Where every element - light, temperature, furnishings - adapts to optimise your wellbeing and cognitive flow.

That's the AI-powered workspace of the near future. But it only works if human needs drive the algorithms. Anchor your workplace in that human-first mindset, and previously impossible employee experiences come within reach.

The Human-Centric Company

For all the buzz around PropTech and smart buildings, the path to true innovation starts in the C-suite. Will your company see AI merely as a tool to reduce headcount and eke out efficiencies? Or recognise it as a means to elevate and empower employees?

Forward-thinking leaders in commercial real estate will choose the latter. They'll use AI to augment, not replace, their people. To automate mundane tasks so humans can focus on higher-order work. To surface insights that help humans make smarter decisions. To enable more flexible, fulfilling ways of working.

But they'll also grapple earnestly with the human implications. How do we reskill and redeploy those whose jobs do change? What guardrails do we need to keep AI accountable and prevent misuse? How do we bake ethics into our AI strategies? Who is your Chief Humanity Officer to navigate these questions?

The companies that thrive in the age of AI will be those that keep humans squarely at the centre. Not just in theory but in practice, with every business decision informed by genuine care for people.

The Human-Centric City

Finally, pan out to the city level. As urban cores reel from post-pandemic shifts, it's clear we need a reboot. But we have to be intentional about what kind of cities we want AI to help us create.

Again, human-centricity lights the way. It means leveraging AI and IoT to make cities more liveable, equitable, sustainable and vibrant for all citizens. Using predictive analytics not just to optimise traffic and energy use but to proactively address social determinants of health. Harnessing digital twins and generative design to co-create neighbourhoods that truly serve community needs.

Imagine a city brain that helps policymakers pinpoint and eradicate sources of air pollution. That dynamically rezones blighted blocks for mixed-use vibrancy. That engages residents to iteratively co-design lively public spaces. Where AI enables urban planners to shape Bespoke Cities deeply responsive to localised human wants and needs.

The potential is vast. But without an explicit focus on human wellbeing and purpose, we risk surrendering our cities to the cold logic of algorithms. We must define, upfront, the human values we want reflected in the code.

Our Human Future

"We are as gods and might as well get good at it," Stewart Brand famously wrote. AI is making us ever more godlike in our capacities. The question is what kind of gods we will choose to be.

Will we be the rigid, unfeeling kind who use these tools to make work and life ruthlessly productive but less meaningful? Or the wise, compassionate kind who use them in service of human potential and flourishing?

I, for one, am determined to keep the human factor at the heart of the real estate sector. To evangelise for the development of spaces and places that don't just house humans but help us thrive. To pursue profit, yes, but never at the expense of human purpose.

In the face of revolutionary tech, may we stay true to our evolutionary heritage. Not machines to be optimised, but humans to be uplifted. Messy, unpredictable, and magnificent still.

#HumanCentricity is our way forward. Let's get good at it.