In 2025, the race to lead in PropTech is not just about disruption, it is about responsibility. Artificial intelligence is reshaping real estate, yet questions of bias, transparency and trust remain.
Lightstone is taking a different path. With its recent European AVM Alliance (EAA) accreditation, the company shows that bold vision must be paired with discipline, putting people above predictions, clarity above complexity and intelligence above hype.
“We are not building AI to impress people. We are building it to empower them,” says Paul-Roux de Kock, Chief Analytics Officer at Lightstone. “Our mission is to make AI transparent and trustworthy, so people can rely on the intelligence shaping their most important financial decisions.”
Local grit with global standards
South Africa’s property market is marked by slow municipal processes, complex registrations and deep inequality. For more than 16 years, Lightstone has brought data and automation to banks, estate agents and consumers. Its Automated Valuation Model (AiVM), once built to cut bank costs, is now central to loan decisions, agent strategies and even municipal valuation disputes.
What sets AiVM apart is its independence, robustness and explainability.
“We are not chasing trends. We are solving real-world problems with intelligent systems that serve people,” adds de Kock. “That means more accurate valuations, better access to credit and greater confidence in the market.”
Built for South African complexity
From townships to luxury estates, Lightstone’s AiVM is designed for diversity. Predictions include confidence scores, layered datasets and tools for human interrogation. Models are monitored to avoid bias or red-lining, while outlier detection and multiple data sources ensure valuations reflect real conditions.
Beyond property
Lightstone’s expertise also extends to automotive and retail analytics, creating an interconnected intelligence ecosystem. Insights in one sector strengthen innovation in another, while governance and peer review safeguard reliability.
“We focus on narrow AI, models built for specific, high-value tasks with low risk,” explains de Kock. “The real power of AI is not in doing everything, but in doing the right things well.”
Looking ahead
Lightstone envisions a property market where transactions can be completed in a week, supported by digital integrations and ESG-driven valuations.
“The real breakthrough is not fancier tech, it is better outcomes,” says de Kock. “We are using AI to amplify human judgment, bring transparency to every transaction and build a more inclusive property ecosystem.”
