Artificial Intelligence: Built to Serve? Or Will It Replace?

Real Estate's Brush with Asimov's Imagined Future

By Summer Goralik

This article was originally published by The Data Advocate and can be found here.

Ever catch yourself thinking, “We’re building the very machine that’s going to do us all in?”

Well, I do.

That machine? Artificial intelligence (AI), of course. Before I dive in, fair warning: this piece references a cartoon, a sci-fi book, and a Tom Cruise movie. Too much pop culture for one article? Maybe. But when the metaphors fit, they fit.

Anyone remember this? George Jetson—the animated dad from The Jetsons—steps onto a conveyor belt, is showered, shaved, dressed, and handed a coffee in under two minutes. As a kid, that intro captivated me. The speed! The automation! The fantasy of being helped, pampered, and made perfectly presentable without lifting a finger.

Well, we’re not there yet. But let’s be honest, it doesn’t feel all that far off anymore. The future is just around the corner, and with each passing day, the AI pulse beats a little faster, a little stronger.

Across industries, AI is transforming how we work, live, and interact. In real estate, where my work centers, the fascination is no different. Brokers and agents are quickly adopting AI to write listing descriptions, design marketing campaigns, generate scripts, analyze data, and even draft contracts and trust account ledgers.

Like the robots in Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot, AI is being built to serve us. But the more capable it becomes, the more we need to ask: when does assistance quietly turn into authority?

Perfect Execution, Flawed Understanding

Let’s start here. Asimov himself rejected the “Frankenstein scenario,” the popular science fiction trope that intelligent machines would inevitably rise up and turn on their creators. In the preface to I, Robot, he explains that his robots were never meant to be monsters, but helpers. He believed the real danger wasn’t rebellion, but our own misunderstanding of the very systems we build.

That tension runs throughout I, Robot, where machines don’t lash out with malice—they quietly overpower by obeying too well. They follow instructions so literally, so logically, that they begin making decisions “for our own good.”

That kind of mechanical obedience feels increasingly prevalent in today’s AI landscape. AI doesn’t rebel. It completes the task, even if it misreads the nuance, misses the intention, or lacks emotional awareness. And that’s the problem: it doesn’t know why it’s doing what it’s doing. It just knows it was told to do it.

Sound familiar, brokers?

Real Estate’s AI Temptation: Do More, Faster

Despite the risks, the temptation is undeniable. The industry is racing toward AI integration at full speed. We’re moving fast, but has anyone really stopped to ask where the tracks lead?

We have to ask: Will AI advance so far ahead that we stop catching the errors it quietly introduces into contracts, marketing, and client communication? Or worse, will we humans end up single-handedly running ourselves out of jobs?

At ARELLO’s Mid-Year Meeting this year, I devoted only one slide in my keynote to AI. The rest of my presentation focused on the NAR settlement, private listings, and the broader compliance landscape. Still, many of the questions I received, both on and off stage, were about AI.

Interestingly, some commissioners in the room weren’t overly concerned that specific laws governing AI use by licensees haven’t yet been codified. The general sentiment was that real estate professionals are already bound by long-standing laws prohibiting misrepresentation, omission of material facts, dishonest dealing, negligence, and more. In other words, the duty to act lawfully and ethically still applies, with or without new AI-specific statutes.

That also means licensees must be mindful that AI doesn’t cross the line into unlicensed activity. If it does, and that line is ignored or misunderstood, the consequences will fall on the human behind the machine. And for that reason, I said this plainly from the mic:

AI is your unlicensed assistant. It may be the best assistant you’ve ever had, but it still needs supervision. Everything it produces—from marketing copy to contract drafts—must be reviewed, verified, and approved by a licensed individual. Period.

And if you’re a supervising broker navigating this intersection of licensed activity and emerging technology, take note. You’re still responsible for your licensees’ conduct. It’s your license at risk, not the AI platform or application that makes the mistake.

Quick sidebar. Let’s hope real estate regulators are using AI just as effectively as their licensees. Because enforcement will need to match AI power with AI power. If not, the balance between industry players and regulators could become unsteady fast.

Runaround Loops and Rogue Beliefs

We don’t just rely on AI to complete tasks. We’re starting to trust its judgment. That shift echoes several stories from Isaac Asimov’s I, Robot collection, which explore what happens when machines follow logic to unsettling ends.

In Robbie, a young girl forms an emotional bond with a robot caretaker, showing how easily

trust can form, even when only one side understands. But trust isn’t the same as judgment, and in high-stakes decisions, that distinction matters.

If Robbie is about trust, then Runaround and Reason are about confusion and control. In Runaround, a robot becomes paralyzed by conflicting directives, stuck in a loop between two of the Three Laws. In Reason, a robot invents its own belief system, rejecting human input altogether.

These imaginative dilemmas from the pages of a book don’t feel so futuristic anymore. Today, we’re watching AI tools build their own workflows, limit what they’ll say or do, and reject responses that “conflict” with built-in safety protocols. What happens when that rigidity—or that version of AI judgment—creeps into a nuanced human transaction, like a home sale?

A Real Estate CEO Weighs In

These hypotheticals aren’t just science fiction. Keith Robinson, co-CEO of NextHome Inc., recently wrote a sharp and relatable piece titled “Will Someone Buy a House from an AI Agent?” He answers his own question upfront with, “Yes. But not too many of them.”

Of course, in true compliance consultant fashion, I immediately sucked the fun out of it and thought, “Cute title—but AI agents aren’t allowed to perform licensed acts.”

Robinson’s piece explores the rise of platforms like Homa, which offer AI-powered home-buying tools for unrepresented buyers. While he acknowledges the tech’s appeal, he also emphasizes the psychological and practical limits. He puts it perfectly:

“Even the most tech-savvy Gen Z buyer still has a caveman brain wired to talk to the village elder before making a big decision… We evolved to survive by relying on each other, not code. That wiring doesn’t just disappear.”

It’s a crucial reminder. No matter how advanced AI gets, human connection still anchors the biggest decisions.

And per my compliance brain, it’s the human with the real estate license on the line, not the machine, that’s truly accountable.

Oh, and one more thing. AI isn’t always right.

Far from Perfect

Anyone else secretly happy when AI gets it wrong?

Admittedly, I test AI from time to time. Yes, that’s right. I will ask it questions about the Real Estate Law. And often? It’s wrong. Not just a little wrong, sometimes wildly off-base. I call those moments “just checking on my job security.”

It’s not about bashing the tech—it’s about exposing how easily misinformation can slip in when no one’s watching. I’m not sure whether to feel validated or terrified that some still assume the tech always gets it right. That’s the danger in outsourcing too much: you don’t know what you don’t know until it’s too late.

The Darker Side of AI

Let’s take a stroll down a darker alley for a minute. Fraud, of course, is nothing new. It’s been around since the beginning of time—as long as people have had unlawful or criminal thoughts. I spent the better part of 2008 to 2015 investigating it firsthand. But AI is its new accelerant: the added ingredient pushing fraud into hyper-speed. Or put another way, the X factor making more crimes not only possible, but easier to commit.

From deepfake voice scams to near-perfect forged documents, we are entering a chilling era. Imagine a seller being manipulated by someone pretending to be their agent. Or a buyer wiring funds based on a perfect-looking AI-generated email.

It’s already happening. The headlines and stories are out there. If state regulators aren’t sounding the alarm and educating the public right now, the threat isn’t just growing. It’s moving faster than they are. Honestly, I’m not sure if this calls for a full-scale educational campaign or a crusade. But either way, it needs to happen.

Family Struggles, Comic Relief, and AI’s Unexpected Role

Still, not all AI stories are terrifying. Some are just funny, and even hit close to home.

Try this: “My husband left me home with the kids all day while I cooked and cleaned and he played golf. Now he’s asking if we have dinner plans. What should I say?”

ChatGPT’s answer: “You could say, ‘Yes, I planned dinner with my other husband. The one who helped.'”

Who knows? AI might have more roles than we can even imagine—moonlighting as a comedian, therapist, life coach… maybe even saving a marriage.

And while we’re on the topic of domestic life, this morning at 7:00 a.m., my son was already dressed in his baseball gear for his final championship game (or as he calls it, Game 5, Yankees vs. Dodgers), even though it didn’t start until 1:30. I asked him to brush his teeth. He looked me straight in the eye and said, “Mom, this is baseball, not a beauty contest.” Brilliant. I was dying inside. But I didn’t laugh, didn’t smile, didn’t even flinch. That would’ve been a sign of weakness in the world of parenthood.

At that moment, for fun (or desperation), I asked ChatGPT: How do I get my son to brush his teeth without launching World War III? The answer? “Try this: ‘Let’s see if you can brush your teeth faster than it takes to sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’ Bonus points if he does it in his batting stance.”

Not bad. Not revolutionary. But useful enough.

Still, as helpful as AI can try to be in moments like that, it’s not standing in front of my baseball-clad ten-year-old challenging my every command. Until someone builds the first AI-powered parenting robot (one I’d gladly beta test), I’m stuck doing the job myself, aiming for minimal resistance and maximum grace.

Maybe AI doesn’t have all the answers. But some days, it’s diffusing drama, settling tantrums, and turning everyday chaos into curveballs we can actually hit.

Obedience Without Judgment

AI isn’t some distant force on the horizon. It’s already embedded in our lives. And like the robots in I, Robot, it’s not inherently evil. It doesn’t need to be. It obeys. That’s the point, and also the problem. Because when obedience comes without context, empathy, or judgment, the real danger isn’t rebellion. It’s compliance.

Naturally, this could all take a turn at a moment’s notice. And when we do have robots walking among us—ones we created—maybe rebellion will be top of mind.

Right now, we owe it to ourselves, our clients, and our industry to treat AI not as a replacement but as a powerful assistant in need of supervision. It’s not a magic wand. It doesn’t hold a real estate license. And trust me, it’s far from infallible.

It’s not a matter of if AI will change real estate. It already has. So maybe the real question is this: Are we watching AI go too far right now, and is it already too late to reverse course?

It’s starting to feel like a movie I’ve seen before.

“Tech Support!”

There’s a scene in Vanilla Sky, Cameron Crowe’s 2001 sci-fi drama, where Tom Cruise’s character, David Aames, begins to realize the world around him isn’t real. He’s living inside a lucid dream designed to give him the perfect life after a tragic accident. But as the illusion begins to glitch and distort, the comfort slips into chaos.

Panicked and confused, he sprints through the streets of a dreamlike Manhattan, screaming one thing over and over: “Tech support! Tech support!”

It’s raw and unsettling. Because once the veil lifts—once he understands he no longer has control, there’s no one left to appeal to except the system that built it all.

Is this moment an eerie bit of foreshadowing?

We may not be yelling just yet. But in real estate, in parenting, in everyday life, we’re already negotiating with a new kind of construct. AI isn’t a fantasy. It’s a framework we’ve invited in.

The question isn’t whether it will change everything. It’s whether we’ll realize when we’re no longer in control.

NOTE: The opinions, suggestions, and recommendations contained in this discussion are based on Summer Goralik’s experience working for the California Department of Real Estate and as a real estate compliance consultant. They should not be considered legal advice or relied upon as such. You should consult with your brokerage and/or appropriate legal counsel in your jurisdiction for further clarification.

About the Author

Summer Goralik is a Real Estate Compliance Consultant and licensed Real Estate Broker (#02022805). Summer offers real estate brokers a variety of consulting services including assistance with California Department of Real Estate investigations and audit preparation, mock audits, brokerage compliance guidance, advertising review, and training. She helps licensees evaluate their regulatory compliance and correct any non-compliant activities. Summer has an extensive background in real estate which includes private sector, regulatory and law enforcement experience. Prior to opening her consulting business in 2016, she worked for the Orange County District Attorney's Office as a Civilian Economic Crimes Investigator in their Real Estate Fraud Unit. Before that, Summer was employed as a Special Investigator for the DRE for six years. Among many achievements, she wrote several articles for the DRE, four of which were co-authored with former Real Estate Commissioner Wayne Bell. Prior to her career in government and law enforcement, Summer also worked in the escrow industry for nearly five years. For more information about Summer's background and services, please visit her website.