Religion. Politics. Climate change. These are dangerous topics. So is AI in strata.
The room quickly divides. Those who can't wait. Those who aren't bothered. Those that will shoot the messenger - we will never be displaced.
The middle ground seems to be that AI will not displace leaders. Leaders that don’t use AI will be replaced by leaders who do.
Strata software vendors are well down the track. AI capabilities are on offer, but what of the uptake? The ‘early’ adopters are making their moves, tentatively, but making moves, nonetheless. Bots are appearing on websites and answering questions about by-laws and renovation approvals. Minutes are being taken by machines. Emails are being sorted. Automated responses are being sent that advance matters, not just advise that the manager will reply within 3 to 5 days. As we move inexorably to this new world, what are we to do?
Three Microsoft leaders and a university professor (Yerramilli-Rao et al 2025) think there are just three questions every business owner should be asking now -
1. What problems do we solve for clients now that clients with AI will solve problems for themselves?
2. Which of our existing skills need to evolve to remain ahead of AI?
3. What assets can we build to remain relevant?
On the first question, insurance is an obvious example of something owners will be able to do themselves. Committees are already arranging their own insurance without AI. When committees get access to the AI already being used by brokers to source and analyse quotes, this trend will continue.
Second question, which skills in our existing skill set need to evolve if we are to remain ahead of AI capabilities? Project management for major repairs, maintenance, and improvements comes to mind. Not project management by default as it's done now. Where major projects are undertaken because the strata manager assumes owners won't pay for this. So they assume the role, often without proper qualifications and for no additional fee. Strata managers might choose to evolve, bringing real project management capabilities and skills in house.
Thirdly, what assets can we build or enhance to remain relevant? Developing AI tools and prompts to read and interpret information from managers will help speed up enquiries, reduce email traffic, and free managers to do more challenging and remunerative work.
Wherever you sit on the AI acceptance spectrum, you could do worse than take a minute to ask these three questions. Before it’s too late.
Michael Teys advises strata management businesses on improving profitability through professionalisation and streamlined operating systems.
He has more than 30 years’ experience as a strata lawyer and academic and has owned 11 strata management agencies throughout Australia. He has a Master of Philosophy (Built Environment) and Bachelor of Laws. He lectures and writes widely about strata management issues in Australia and internationally.
