A property portal claims it’s struck an industry-first by making a “substantial investment” of over £250,000 in Artificial Intelligence. 

The local portal – Propertynews – says the AI allows it to answer users’ questions about a property 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is based on the same technology that underpins Chat GPT and Gemini and draws on information from property brochures, as well as external information from third party sources on things like travel times, local amenities, and dog walking routes.

Portal managing director Emma Kerr says: “With more than 500 agents and hundreds of thousands of users engaging with [the AI facility] the stakes were high to arrive at a first in class product that accurately answered the multitude of home mover queries being asked of it. A rigorous build and testing process has ensured that Liv offers best in class technology and seamlessly blends into the website to benefit and enhance the overall user experience.

“We believe this is the first AI assistant, used in this way, on a property portal anywhere. 

“It is part of our commitment to being the number-one choice in Northern Ireland for buyers, renters and agents and to making the user experience as outstanding as it can be. [It] is designed to help potential buyers understand if a property meets their needs, even before they see it in person.”

Kerr says the AI facility ultimately increases the proportion of viewings that are relevant and productive, and that functionality will be added in the future.

Propertynews is owned by a local Northern Ireland business, GCD Technologies, and currently lists 96 per cent of all housing stock on the market in Northern Ireland.