The Human Experience

The digital world is trying to take your jobs, but they aren’t you…

As someone who works in both the Travel and Real Estate industry, I’ve seen many AI products, tech-based business models, and companies reducing the human element. However, experience and expertise will continue to triumph over digital replacements.

Before reading further, understand I am a fan of Artificial Intelligence and utilize it for tasks. However, I am highlighting the flaws and importance of “Personal recommendations”.

Viewing Homes In-Person

My wife and I were pulled over for driving slowly, viewing a property.?

A home had just come on the market, so my wife and I decided it would be a good idea to go view the outside of the property and the community before we toured inside with our agent. As we drove through the neighborhood (which had good ratings and was near a school) an officer trailed us for about 5 minutes.?

Next, my wife and I pulled up to the property which triggered the officer to turn his lights on. As he approached my car, he asked “What are you doing driving through this neighborhood”, in which we proceeded to explain that there was a house in front of us and we wanted to check out the neighborhood and the home for sale. He proceeded to explain my slow driving late at night, triggered him to think we were about to do a “Drive by shooting”. Naturally, we asked if that activity was common in the area, to which he responded “Yes”.

When I looked over the data points in the area, nothing would have told me the neighborhood was dangerous by any means. Touring the neighborhood on Google Maps made you feel as though the neighborhood was safe. But, it turned out that just the street the house we were looking to purchase was indeed that way.

Later we told our Realtor about our experience and he said “Yeah, I could have told you that, But it’s good that you experienced the neighborhood first-hand and we’ll avoid seeing homes in that area going forward.” Yes, we viewed the property without letting our agent know. Just to check out the neighborhood.

Going Down the Wrong Road on Vacation

Our Nassau cruise could have been quite unpleasant.

No advisor, no plan, just Google recommendations and maps to guide our walk through Nassau. Our day started off great, stopping by a local brewery for a quick pint, some shopping and tons of exploring. Which eventually led us to an area that was less busy, but still interesting.

As we set out on our journey, we pulled out our phones and opened Google Maps, eager to explore a new spot. But our excitement was quickly interrupted by a local woman who approached us. With concern in her voice, she warned us about a particular street, saying, "If you're heading in that direction, I would advise against going up {enter the street name}." Although the street appeared harmless, we couldn't help but inquire further. Her response sent a chill down our spines: "That road is home to two rival gangs. If you don't belong to either, you're considered unwelcome there." Needless to say, we heeded her advice and chose the longer, but safer, path to reach our destination.

When we embark on our travels, we often overlook the existence of "No-go" zones or areas that may pose potential risks. It is disheartening to acknowledge that, in order to promote tourism in certain regions, local authorities may conceal criminal activities. Furthermore, the effectiveness of AI and machine learning models is limited by the quality and availability of the data they rely upon. This poses a significant challenge to ensuring the safety of travel. This is why booking through an advisor should be a vital part of any trip or ask the locals immediately. Human experience in a given area is worth paying for.

Could AI and these programs learn “environment”?

Not without a degree of uncertainty or offending the residents.

Imagine your neighborhood was labeled “Unsafe” by AI or Google. What would that do to home prices? Would anyone want to move there? What if the data points used to determine your street was unsafe were simply incorrect?

While it may seem obvious due to the latest data privacy laws, obtaining precise and current information poses a significant challenge for AI and tech-based business models.

Ex. Your AI could recommend you avoid a certain area, if it were connected to Google Maps and Google Maps noticed visiting parties are avoiding a certain location. However, the latest privacy laws are steering away from companies like Google from sharing or even using that data.?

In today's rapidly advancing world, technology and AI have become integral parts of our lives. While they offer convenience, it's crucial to recognize their limitations and potential flaws. Personal experiences, expertise, and local knowledge still play a crucial role in areas like real estate, travel, and safety. Let's embrace AI's benefits while valuing human involvement for a better future. What are your thoughts on striking the right balance between technology and human touch?

Author notes: I am the head of marketing and sales for a real estate tech company (Showami) and own a local travel agency (Best Adventure Spots).