Spring 2025 FCIAAO Newsletter

advice SAGE

Embracing AI as Assessors: A Tool, Not a Replacement Unpopular opinion? Maybe. But like it or not, AI is making its way into property assessment, and the conversation around it is growing louder. I’ve heard it all— concerns that AI will replace us all, skepticism about whether it can truly replicate an appraiser’s judgment, and warnings that those who ignore it will be left behind. I firmly believe the latter. Recently, I heard someone say AI can make a poor-performing employee good, a good employee excellent, and an excellent employee who refuses to use it obsolete. That stuck with me because it highlights the reality that AI isn’t here to take our jobs—it’s here to help us do them better. Tools like ChatGPT and Copilot don’t replace expertise; they enhance it. Think of AI as a highly efficient intern—one who never sleeps, processes data in seconds, and doesn’t complain about the workload. It can scan enormous datasets, highlight trends, and even draft reports, but it still needs human oversight. AI might tell us what market conditions suggest, but it doesn’t walk neighborhoods, sense community shifts, or understand the subtle factors that influence a property’s real value. That’s on us.

I’ve started integrating AI-driven tools into my workflow, and I’ll admit, it has made some tasks faster and smoother. But the keys using AI as a supplement— not a substitute—for professional judgment. AI is an assistant, not the boss. Keeping the Human Element in Property Assessment While AI can crunch numbers and automate processes, it doesn’t replace experience. An algorithm can’t sit down with a property owner, explain a valuation, or assess the emotional and historical significance of a home. It can suggest, estimate, and predict, but it lacks the professional reasoning that comes from years in the field. What AI does best is free up time. Instead of getting bogged down in paperwork, assessors who use AI efficiently can focus on more meaningful work— providing fair assessments, improving community relations, and making informed decisions that impact real people.

SAGE SULLIVAN DUVAL COUNTY

So instead of fearing AI, let’s learn how to leverage it. Let’s explore how it can make our jobs easier without compromising the professionalism and ethical judgment that make appraisers invaluable. Because those who embrace AI won’t just survive the shift—they’ll lead it.

Future-Proofing Your Career with AI

AI is already here, and it’s only going to become more embedded in the way we work. Ignoring it isn’t just resisting change—it’s risking irrelevance.

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STAYING APPRAISED

SPRING 2025