Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming education, and Assistant Professor of Real Estate Dr. Jeffrey Robert, alongside Director of Information Technology for the Pamplin College of Business, Jim Dickhans, is leveraging it to enhance student preparation for real-world real estate challenges. Their innovative approach allows students in REAL 1024 (The REAL DEAL!) to engage with AI-powered personas, simulating town hall discussions on community development—an experience previously impossible to replicate in the classroom.

The idea emerged during a Teaching and Learning in the Classroom (TLC) meeting, where Associate Dean Dr. Michelle Seref facilitates discussions on best practices among faculty in the College of Business and openly discusses ways to improve education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. When Dickhans shared his experience using AI to train students in client interactions, Dr. Robert saw its potential for real estate education.

In real estate development, community engagement is crucial. This AI-driven project immersed students in a mock development exercise where they acted as developers, interacting with AI personas that mimic diverse community members. Each bot has distinct viewpoints, behaviors, and responses, reflecting real-world stakeholders.

“We couldn’t do this two years ago,” said Dr. Robert. “But now, (with the advancement of AI), we can deploy chatbots rapidly in this context.”

Open to all Virginia Tech students with no prerequisites, the REAL DEAL! (REAL 1024) offers hands-on experience in all aspects of real estate. For this activity in particular, students worked in teams to propose plans for an undeveloped rural site in Blacksburg, considering residential, commercial, and industrial uses. They then pitch their concepts to AI-driven town hall meetings, receiving real-time feedback from bots programmed to support or oppose different ideas.

Students approached the exercise with diverse perspectives, often having differing opinions on target markets, types of housing, and land use. Some groups proposed high-density housing developments with 50 or more units, while others opted for smaller-scale plans with as few as 20 homes. Many teams incorporated community-focused features into their designs, such as centrally located churches, public parks, and other amenities to attract potential residents.

During the AI-powered town hall meetings, virtual community members voiced a variety of concerns, ranging from preserving the area's natural beauty to ensuring the availability of affordable housing. Others emphasized the importance of public spaces like parks and walkways, pushing students to refine their plans in response to community feedback. However, balancing these demands without completely changing the concept of the development proved challenging. Some students found themselves modifying their projects significantly to align with community interests, while others adjusted piece by piece in aligning with the respective virtual townhall members perspective.

The class ended with a roundtable discussion, as students shared similar feedback and how they may have maneuvered the community members’ complaints, while still pursing the development.

“This is as close as it gets to real-world preparation,” Robert emphasized. “If the community isn’t engaged, zoning boards won’t approve projects. This experience mirrors what students will face beyond the classroom.”

With advances in technology like AI, education continues to be impacted in a variety of ways, and, while the potential proves limitless, students are already being exposed to unique lessons that weren’t possible not too long ago. 

*Please note, this activity was purely a simulation using artifical intelligence. There is no development in Blacksburg being organized by the Blackwood Department of Real Estate.