Ep. 20 | PropTech 2026: What’s Real, What’s Hype with MIT Guest Steve Weikal

Powered by HqO - Learn more and join the Quantum City Initiative here: https://www.hqo.com/the-future-of-cities-begins-now/   In this episode, we’re joined by Steve from the MIT Center for Real Estate, and we get into a real conversation about PropTech, AI, and what’s actually real versus what’s just hype. No sci-fi, no robots delivering buildings, just how this stuff is really showing up in commercial real estate.   We talk about:   Why some of the most powerful uses of AI might be in the boring, behind-the-scenes work Whether AI is replacing jobs, creating jobs, or doing something else entirely How hard it actually is to measure productivity and ROI in real estate The global AI adoption gap and why the U.S. builds the infrastructure but others move faster Agentic AI and the real question underneath it all: Do you trust it enough to hit the button? Cities, housing, workplace shifts, and what signals actually matter going forward We go a little rogue, get a little philosophical, and finish with a lightning round that covers everything from healthy cities to personal tech we can’t live without.   Huge thanks to Steve for coming on, sharing his perspective, and helping us think more clearly about where this industry is actually headed.   Hit play. This one’s less about answers and more about asking the right questions.   Who should we bring on for the next episode?   Stay Connected: Subscribe to the newsletter for insights & event invites Share your feedback - we love hearing from you! Follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/hqo/  Twitter https://x.com/hqoapp Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hqoapp TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@hqo_official  TIMESTAMPS: 05:30 Deal Path AI Studio Success 13:53 Global AI Adoption Divide 27:37 Measuring AI Impact 32:42 AI R&D Investment 40:33 Future of PropTech at MIT 43:34 Lightning Round