The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player!
Overview
Greg launches the second edition of The Art of the CMA, along with new survey data showing agents believe CMAs are more relevant than ever, even as AI adoption grows. That leads into the episode’s main debate: could AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude get direct MLS access and replace agents’ role in producing CMAs and running transactions? Rob and Greg dig into MLS “participant” rules, a LinkedIn post from Craig Cheatham (Realty Alliance) pushing to redefine who qualifies as a real broker vs. a paper/AI brokerage, and a broader disagreement over whether AI is fundamentally different from past disruptors like Zillow, iBuyers, and discount brokerages.
Key Takeaways
- Greg’s second edition of The Art of the CMA launched today, with a new chapter on AI and CMAs
- New survey (~2,200 agents, Feb 2026) shows 89.6% believe CMAs will be more relevant in the future — a 22-point increase from the prior survey
- Agents report CMAs now take longer to produce and use fewer comps than before
- Over 90% of agents cite the MLS as their most trusted data source for comps
- Current AI tools lack direct MLS access, relying instead on public sources like Zillow and Redfin
- Rob raises the scenario of OpenAI or Anthropic obtaining a broker’s license to join the MLS directly as participants
- Craig Cheatham’s LinkedIn post to CMLS argues for a more stringent definition of “participant” to separate real brokerages from paper/AI brokerages
- Discussion touches on the now-expired DOJ/NAR settlement and the “endeavor to cooperate” clause as precedent
- Rob argues AI replaces human labor and is fundamentally different from past disruptors; Greg argues real estate remains an emotional, trust-based decision AI can’t fully replicate
- Rob contends a transaction handled by AI connected to MLS data may carry lower risk than one handled by an average, inexperienced agent
- Both agree AI brokerages are already emerging and expect the MLS participation debate to escalate soon
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