The Agents Who Laughed at the Internet

The Agents Who Laughed at the Internet

A few weeks ago, I taught my class Getting Started with AI for Real Estate to a packed room of agents. We weren’t just talking theory. I showed them real, working AI systems that help agents create content, build smarter marketing, and save hours a week. People were amazed. Then I said, “Real estate agents who don’t adopt AI will be out of business in two years.”

One person laughed.

I smiled and asked, “Do you think the agents who refused to use the internet stayed in business?”

That laugh turned into the kind of silence you can hear over a Zoom call.

We’ve Been Here Before

Every major tech shift in real estate has gone through the same four stages: denial, resistance, curiosity, and eventually, everyone pretending they were early adopters.

Remember when the MLS went online and agents swore they’d “never need a computer”? Or when websites became a thing and they said, “Why would I need one? My clients just call me.” Then social media showed up and they declared, “That’s for kids.”

Funny thing is, all those people eventually got websites, Facebook pages, and smartphones. Some even bragged about how “tech-forward” they were after spending a decade fighting it.

AI Isn’t the Future. It’s the Present.

In business, the internet gave us access. Smartphones gave us mobility. AI gives us leverage.

Right now, most agents are dabbling. They ask ChatGPT to write a cute caption or an MLS description and think they’ve “figured out AI.” That’s like buying a calculator and calling yourself a mathematician. The agents who are truly leveling up are building systems that handle marketing, data, and client communication in ways that actually move the needle.

And here’s the wild part. What used to take an entire marketing department can now be done by one person with the right prompts and workflows. That’s not science fiction. That’s just Tuesday.

The 12–18 Month Reality Check

I think we’re about 12 to 18 months away from AI being as essential to business as the internet and smartphones. Once that happens, “I’m just not a tech person” won’t be a personality trait. It’ll be a liability.

If you’re waiting to “see how it all plays out,” I’ve got bad news. It’s already playing out. And like every major shift before this, the agents who adapt will pull ahead while the rest are left wondering when everything changed.

So, learn the tools. Build the systems. Laugh a little less and experiment a little more. Because when AI becomes the new normal, the only people laughing will be the ones who started early.

Ready to Level Up?

If you’re ready to see what AI can actually do for your business, join me for AI Tips and Tricks to Level Up Your Real Estate Game. It’s the follow-up to Getting Started with AI for Real Estate and goes deeper into the workflows, prompts, and systems that can transform your business.

You can find upcoming sessions, playbooks, and resources at larryhales.com.