Neil Stewart on AI with Boundaries

PropTech Connect offers a great opportunity for young start-up companies to pitch their wares to the wider real estate industry, in a series of ten minutes sessions.

But it will have surprised many to see the UK’s oldest PropTech company – Trace Solutions, established 1974 – also participating in that pitch process.

Trace’s Business Development Director Neil Stewart brought a calm, clear-eyed perspective to the rise of AI and other new technologies in commercial real estate – a perspective grounded in 50 years of technological experience.

His message was simple: AI is powerful, technological advance is a must – but it must always be handled with care.

“We’re the oldest PropTech company here,” Neil told the audience, “but we’re still chosen by many of the world’s biggest agents – including CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield – because they trust our software to be stable, accurate, and accountable.”

Rather than chasing hype, Trace is focused on augmented intelligence – using AI to support, rather than replace, human judgement.

Neil also introduced Trace’s collaboration with Brunel University, whose AI scientists rank among the global top 2%. Together, Trace are shaping a strategy that uses AI to enhance performance – without compromising data integrity or human oversight.

“AI should be like a bionic suit – it makes you stronger, but it never walks off on its own.”

It was a grounded message that resonated in a conference otherwise full of blue-sky promises – and a reminder of why Trace continues to lead the market in responsibility.

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