On February 24, 2026, the Chicago Chapter of The Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR) hosted its Speaker Series Luncheon at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in Rosemont, Illinois. Ra’eesa Motala, SIOR, gave a presentation titled “Future-Proof Ready: Practical Applications of AI for Business Growth and Operational Efficiency,” which highlighted real-world AI use cases for commercial real estate professionals.
Motala, Chief Revenue Officer of Op2mize Energy and a former industrial broker, emphasized AI as a tool to enhance—not replace—broker expertise.
Live demonstrations showed how platforms like Claude and RealAI can generate real-time market intelligence dashboards, significantly reducing research time from days to minutes. AI-driven workflows using Microsoft Copilot were showcased to automate prospecting, identify decision-makers, and manage outreach campaigns—saving up to six hours per week.
Advanced applications include rapid generation of underwriting models, pro formas, LOIs, and offering memoranda, with human oversight remaining essential for accuracy. However, Motala stressed that professionals can start small by leveraging existing AI tools for everyday tasks like email drafting, lease analysis, and risk identification.
“Tasks that once required junior brokers or analysts days or weeks to complete can be executed in a matter of minutes,” said Motala. “However, it’s important to train your AI the way you would onboard a new team member. Consistent use allows the tool to accumulate context, anticipate your needs, and progressively align with your working style and priorities.”
Approximately 50 SIOR members and guests attended the luncheon.
