Not all consumers may need smart hairbrush or an automated toaster, but it is neat to see what technology can do! Outside-the-box thinking drives innovation, and no single event highlights both the craziest ideas and groundbreaking new technology like CES 2017. The 50th annual convention didn’t disappoint the tech aficionados gathered to preview the best and biggest trends ready to hit consumers. Here are the CES 2017 trends most likely to impact the commercial real estate field.

1) Artificial Assistants

Artificial intelligence reigned supreme at CES 2017. Amazon’s Alexa dominated new tech, appearing in Ford cars, LG’s Smart Instaview Refrigerator, televisions, phones, lamps, and more. Google Assistant was right behind Alexa with its incorporation into Smart TVs and Google Home speaker. If CES 2017 is any indication, the real estate industry has just witnessed the tip of the AI iceberg with it current use in analytics, scheduling applications, chatbots, and CRM solutions. Get ready for AI to be everywhere and in control of everything. Expect to see AI technology as a selling feature for commercial and residential spaces. Consumers are excited about the potential of voice commands to turn lights on or off, programming coffee, and changing the music.

2) New VR/AR Accessibility

As we predicted in our CRE trends for 2017, virtual and augmented reality devices are both improving and getting cheaper. Headsets like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 are going wireless. The real newsmaker for virtual tech was the progress on augmented reality. Intel’s wireless Project Alloy headset allows users to see real-world objects inside a virtual world. Microsoft Hololens demonstrated “holograms” superimposed over the real world. The Asus Zenfone AR was specifically built for augmented reality experiences. Real estate professionals could use augmented reality as a selling tool, superimposing a company’s branding into a blank space, or to show a finished product in a space still under construction.

3) Expansion of IoT

The real estate industry is witnessing an Internet of Things (IoT) boom right now. The tech is enhancing the efficiency of a space. Temperature and humidity monitoring, building occupancy, and automated lighting control are leaders in the smart building movement. CES 2017 revealed the IoT expansion is just starting. Not all of the exhibited smart products applied to real estate, but its widespread presence at CES shows the connectedness innovation isn’t over yet. Products that could apply to commercial real estate range from ceiling tiles that wirelessly charge electronic devices within range to smart radiator valves. Imagine asking a mirror what time it is and the weather conditions outside, or using a small drone to take a real-time virtual tour of a a space.