New Survey Spotlights the Use of AI in Community Associations
Artificial intelligence is becoming engrained in community associations, according to a new survey conducted by the Foundation for Community Association Research. Nearly 500 community managers, business partners, homeowner leaders, and company executives responded to the Foundation’s research in May, and more than 70% of respondents use AI compared to only 29% who don’t.
The survey’s results come as AI becomes more prevalent in daily life. More than half of Americans interact with artificial intelligence regularly, and over 80% of businesses have adopted AI to some extent, reports McKinsey & Company, a business management consultant in Washington, D.C.
The Foundation reports that the most used AI applications in community associations are ChatGPT, Copilot, and Google Bard/Gemini at 80% followed by Zoom Assistant, Otter, and others at 51%. Nearly 27% of respondents to the Foundation’s survey report using language translation and text-to-speech.
Where do community association professionals find AI most valuable? Roughly 80% say they use it for communication assistance, including email responses and resident interactions, followed by 35% for event planning and announcements, and 26% for contract review and development of requests for proposals.
Despite AI’s growing popularity, there remain concerns about using it. The Foundation found 63% are worried about data security and privacy risks, and nearly 55% cite lack of training or knowledge to use AI properly. Specifically, respondents questioned the reliability of AI-generated content, citing errors, the need for fact checking, and potential misinformation. Additionally, research found there’s a clear gap in understanding how to effectively use AI, including a steep learning curve, low awareness, and insufficient training.
Asked if there is concern about AI replacing the services provided by respondents or their companies, 62% say no, while only 11% say yes, and 17% are unsure of how it will impact their jobs in the future.
Moving forward, what will the long-term impact of AI be on community associations? Roughly 36% believe it will have a significant positive impact. While 38% think it will have a moderate positive impact, 8% say neutral, 6% say negative, and 13% are unsure of AI’s future.
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Laura Otto is the Senior Editor of Digital Content at CAI. A seasoned journalist, Laura previously worked for a creative, advocacy agency in Washington, D.C., where she wrote and edited content for a variety of public health clients. Prior to that, Laura served as a senior writer and editor for the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Laura is a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia.