The NYC Market Is Hot—But AI Is What Will Keep It Competitive

During the buzz of NYC Tech Week, Venn joined forces with Apartment List to host a panel exploring what’s next for multifamily in New York City and beyond.

Two sharp minds led the conversation: Marc Mathieu, Venn’s new Chief AI Officer and former Head of Global AI Transformation at Salesforce, and Chris Salviati, Head of Economics at Apartment List. While Chris painted a picture of a red-hot rental market—96.6% occupancy, 4% YoY rent growth—what really stole the show was the bigger question:

What happens when AI becomes core to how we live?

Marc didn’t mince words. He compared today’s AI moment to the dawn of electricity. Right now, we’re still lighting fires—using AI for content and chat. But soon, AI will become the operating layer behind every action, decision, and experience.

For multifamily, that’s more than smart workflows or automation. It’s about transforming operations from transactional to experiential—giving residents personalized, proactive support that feels more like a lifestyle service than a lease.

Marc shared a favorite quote (courtesy of ChatGPT):
“If Alexa can predict what you need, why can’t your landlord?”
That’s the opportunity. To make buildings feel intelligent. To meet renters where they are. And to turn resident data into something that works for them—not just for the back office.

His closing advice to owners and operators?

• Get your data house in order. The future is only as smart as your systems are clean.
• Find your AI champions. Not everyone will embrace this shift—but some will lead it.
• Experiment relentlessly. The only way to stay ahead is to start using AI every day, in real ways.

If you’re building for the future, don’t just adopt technology—design around it. Your residents are ready. Are you?