Compass launches AI tool for agents

Real estate brokerage Compass debuted AI Assistant to its eighty three thousand agents in July. CEO Robert Reffkin, President Rory Golod, and other senior leaders presented the tool at a demo day watched live by more than ten thousand agents.

Leadership visits offices to promote adoption

Since the launch, Compass senior leaders have visited local offices to promote AI Assistant. Corporate staff at regional offices were trained to teach agents how to use the tool, which handles repetitive administrative tasks and identifies new sales opportunities.

Early adoption numbers show engagement

Within weeks of launch, about fifteen thousand Compass agents generated more than ninety seven thousand conversations using AI Assistant. The company deployed intensive sales tactics to encourage adoption across its workforce.

Industry adoption is high but age matters

Nine out of every ten agents across the real estate industry report using AI today or planning to do so, according to the National Association of Realtors. More than two thirds save at least one hour of work each week using AI.

Older agents pose adoption challenge

The median age of a real estate agent is fifty seven, presenting a challenge for AI adoption. Pew Research shows older Americans use AI chatbots less for work than younger employees, creating a demographic barrier.

Brokerages have resisted technology before

Real estate brokerages have a mixed track record embracing new technologies. They were slow to adopt the internet and mobile applications, allowing online marketplaces like Zillow and Redfin to capture homebuyers moving to digital channels faster than agents.

AI threatens to disrupt agent business model

Home buyers and sellers are experimenting with AI chatbots for do-it-yourself transactions to save money on agent fees. A physical therapist assistant reported saving thousands using an AI platform for a home contract.

DIY home sales using AI show results

A man in Florida used ChatGPT to close on the sale of his home in five days for one hundred thousand dollars more than what real estate agents estimated the property would fetch. A New York Times technology reporter used AI almost entirely to sell a home in upstate New York.

New York City proposes AI disclosure rules

Emerging regulation poses another challenge for AI in real estate. New York City has a proposal requiring landlords, brokers, and online listing platforms to disclose when they have used AI to generate or digitally alter rental listing photos or videos.

Golod defends agent value proposition

Compass President Rory Golod argues that AI cannot replace agents. He says selling homes requires judgment, high emotional intelligence, and relationships that AI lacks, and that face-to-face conversations with sellers remain essential.

“To actually sell a home properly and help a buyer buy a home properly, it requires incredible judgment, high EQ, and relationships.”

Compass evolved its AI strategy over time

An earlier version called Compass AI focused on content creation, including marketing materials and social media posts. AI Assistant was conceptualized to act like a human assistant and take real actions, including producing prospective client lists.

AI Assistant drafts outreach and compiles listings

AI Assistant proactively produces lists of prospective clients ready to sell and drafts personalized notes to reconnect with them. The tool is voice-enabled, allowing agents to dictate notes while driving. It also compiles potential homes for buyers called Compass Collections.

Compass moved from chat to agentic AI

Chief Technology Officer Shay Artzi says Compass moved in a similar path to the industry, shifting from chat to agentic AI. The company saw the value in agentic systems that are aware of all platforms and tools agents use.

“We moved in a similar path to the industry, moving from chat to agentic.”

AI Assistant integrates one hundred tools

AI Assistant connects one hundred different real estate tools within a single platform. Compass designed it so agents only need to know how to prompt the AI tool to take an action, rather than understand Compass-specific branding or software jargon.

Full platform adoption expected to increase

Golod says Compass is seeing a shift where more agents who previously used parts of the platform are now taking full advantage of it. He expects this trend to drive significantly more usage across the company's tools and services.

“We're starting to see this amazing shift where more and more agents, who in the past used parts of the platform but not all of it, are now really starting to take full advantage.”

Adoption effort reflects industry challenge

Golod acknowledges that getting agents to adopt new tools requires significant effort. Compass deployed its full leadership team and regional staff to promote AI Assistant, showing how difficult technology adoption remains in real estate despite clear productivity benefits.

“It takes a lot of work to get agents to actually adopt these tools.”