Anthony Viviani, CTO and AI Officer at iKenekt, argues that even as artificial intelligence transforms real estate investing, the human experience must remain at the forefront of technology development.
“Take a process that’s traditionally been complicated and maybe even intimidating for some people, and make it clear, intuitive, empowering,” Viviani says, describing his company’s approach to AI integration. “It’s about combining human expertise with technology that takes away the noise and helps investors focus on what truly matters.”
Breaking Down the Complexity Barrier
After 15 years in commercial real estate lending and technology, Viviani says the industry continues to struggle with making complex processes accessible to users. “We saw a systemic issue across the entire industry. Borrowers were dealing with a system that felt clunky and antiquated, kind of slow, anything but user friendly,” he notes.
This observation led Viviani and his team to focus intensively on user experience even as they developed sophisticated AI capabilities. According to Viviani, the goal isn’t to simply add AI features, but to ensure technology serves as “a true strategic co-pilot” for users.
The Balance of AI and Human Touch
While iKenekt’s platform leverages AI for data analysis and predictive insights, Viviani emphasizes that human expertise remains crucial. “Once the AI matches you with potential loan programs, you’re paired with a personal, professional loan officer who guides you through the rest of the process,” he explains.
This hybrid approach, Viviani says, allows the platform to handle complex calculations while ensuring users receive the personal guidance they need for major investment decisions.
Building Trust Through Transparency
According to Viviani, one key to successful AI integration is making the technology’s insights accessible and understandable. “Everything is presented clearly and intuitively, so users can quickly digest the information they need to make complex and informed decisions,” he says.
The platform achieves this by translating millions of data points into clear, actionable insights rather than overwhelming users with raw data. Viviani notes that early user feedback has validated this approach, with customers describing the experience as “intuitive, easy to navigate, and dare I even say enjoyable to use.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of User-Centric AI
As iKenekt prepares for a major launch in September 2025, Viviani says the focus remains on user adoption and experience. “We’ve built this great platform that does really, really great things, and I need people to know about it,” he says, emphasizing that increased usage will only make the AI more effective.
The company’s approach suggests that as AI continues to transform real estate investing, success may depend not just on technological capabilities, but on how well platforms can make those capabilities accessible and valuable to human users.
