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AI and Technology

The AI Internet and Why Local Expertise Is the New Gold

👓 3.1 minute read

 

The internet is changing fast. 

 

AI is replacing search engines with ‘answer engines’ that provide direct responses rather than links. This shift is upending the 25-year-old ‘traffic economy’ we’ve come to rely upon that once rewarded clicks and SEO tactics. 

 

While we know the majority of Australians still start their search for a real estate agent with Google, and that it remains the foundation of success, First National is advocating that all members optimise their online reputation and search profiles now to stay ahead of the changing curve.

 

In an interview we watched with Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince, he described this as a turning point where generic, derivative content loses its value. AI systems no longer need 27 versions of the same article — they need one trustworthy, original source.

 

For us as real estate agents, that’s both a warning and an opportunity. The new digital economy values authentic local knowledge above all else. What AI can’t easily replicate is the nuanced insight an experienced agent holds about their suburb — the street-by-street detail, community stories, school information, and lifestyle trends that define a place.

 

To succeed in this new environment:

 

  • Be distinctive. Stop recycling market commentary found everywhere else.

  • Go hyper-local. Create content about the stories, developments and quirks of your community that only you can tell.

  • Fill the gaps. Think of human knowledge as Swiss cheese — find and fill the local holes AI can’t.

  • Build value. Future content models may reward creators who supply unique, verifiable knowledge.

 

Real estate agents who focus on producing genuine, local insight will be the ones AI recognises, rewards and surfaces — becoming the go-to sources in their markets.

 

NotebookLM Gets Smarter – and More Useful for Agents 

👓 3.1 minute read

 

Anybody who attended our AI presentation at Port Douglas Convention would have walked away knowing how much we LOVE NotebookLM. It’s a transformative tool for property managers grappling with new legislation or debates with tenants, and a boon for principals juggling HR laws, property Acts and all manner of other matters administrative.

 

Now, NotebookLM has evolved into one of the most powerful AI tools for turning complex information into usable insight. 

 

The latest version introduces interactive mind maps that visually connect ideas across uploaded documents, allowing agents to identify relationships between market data, property trends, or training materials at a glance.

 

A new ‘Discover Sources’ feature automatically finds relevant online material related to any topic, such as suburb profiles, demographic data, or legislation updates – saving hours of manual research.

 

Audio and video overviews can now generate narrated summaries in more than 50 languages, giving agents a way to absorb reports or training content while travelling between appointments.

 

For users who upgrade to NotebookLM Plus, the system can manage up to 300 sources per notebook, collaborate across teams, and securely store client-facing documents in Google’s AI ecosystem.

 

Why it matters:

NotebookLM can summarise market reports, compare listings, draft training material, or prepare client briefings in seconds. For busy agents, it’s becoming an indispensable digital assistant for research, content creation, and professional learning.

How AI is changing real estate search – and Why Google remains the foundation

📹 47 minute webinar

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how people search for property and evaluate agents, but the truth is often misunderstood. AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini don’t ‘know’ who the best agents are – they summarise what Google already ranks and trusts. That makes your Google presence more critical than ever. 

 

What Agents Should Know About Google’s 2025 AI Upgrades

Google has accelerated its AI development this year, expanding tools that directly affect how people search, discover, and engage with property content online.

 

Key developments relevant to real estate:

 

  • AI Mode in Search: Google’s new default search experience provides detailed, AI-generated answers instead of traditional search results. This means buyers and tenants increasingly get answers, not lists of links. Agents should ensure their Google Business Profiles, websites, and reviews are optimised so they appear in these AI-driven results.
  • Gemini App Growth: Google’s Gemini AI now has more than 500 million active users, making it the world’s second most-used AI platform after ChatGPT. Gemini integrates directly with Google Search, Maps, and Gmail, meaning it will influence how local businesses – including agencies – are surfaced and described.
  • NotebookLM: A research assistant that summarises documents and generates insights. Agents could use this to distil market reports, legislation, or training material quickly.
  • Google Labs & Flow: Google continues to test creative AI tools. ‘Flow’ produces short, cinematic video clips from text prompts – a potential future avenue for property marketing and virtual storytelling.
  • AI-Enhanced Shopping and Local Discovery: Google’s ‘Shop with AI Mode’ expands to travel and local services, suggesting future applications for AI-based property search and relocation planning

 

Bottom line: Google is transforming from a search engine into an answer engine. Agents who maintain strong Google Business Profiles, collect consistent reviews, and publish locally authoritative content will remain visible as these new AI systems decide which businesses to feature.