Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries worldwide, and real estate is no exception. From streamlining property searches to automating listings, AI-powered tools are rapidly becoming integral to how homes are bought and sold.
Toronto-based real estate platform Wahi has launched Canada’s first consumer-facing AI image search tool. This feature allows homebuyers to filter property photos for specific features like “renovated kitchens” or “finished basements,” promising a faster, more tailored search experience.
A game-changer for consumers?
Wahi’s new feature, developed with Western University researchers, uses generative AI to analyze property photos and prioritize listings that match specific buyer preferences. Instead of scrolling through listings, buyers can search by visual attributes, making it easier to find homes that align with their needs and wants.
Eman Nejad, Wahi’s head of data science, highlights the potential of this technology, noting that it “adds a new dimension to the real estate industry.”
AI tools Realtors are almost using
Realtors may find Wahi’s news familiar. In 2022, the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) announced a partnership with Barcelona-based Restb.ai to integrate AI into its MLS system. The technology promised to analyze listing photos, tag features like architectural styles or interior finishes, and even detect property conditions, all while speeding up the listing process.
At the time, TRREB described the technology as a “Pinterest-type experience,” with CEO John DiMichele touting its potential to revolutionize how agents work and match buyers with homes. Realtors anticipated faster workflows, greater listing accuracy, and a new level of search sophistication.
However, despite claims that the Restb.ai integration would be complete by early 2023, PropTx, TRREB’s for-profit subsidiary, lists the feature as “coming soon” on its website. It remains unclear when the promised technology will become available to its members. TRREB did not respond to REM’s requests for comment.
The Saskatchewan Realtors Association announced it integrated the technology into its MLS in November 2023.
