WHY RET CHOSE AI AS ITS JUDGING PANEL

There is a structural issue in this industry that needs to be addressed honestly. Influence is too often guided by cheque books or backroom arrangements rather than impact, innovation or genuine progress.

At Real Estate Today, we are not prepared to participate in that culture. That position is deliberate, and it is why we have chosen to take a different path.

With the Trailblazer Awards set to announce their winners in a week’s time, Real Estate Today has confirmed its decision to use artificial intelligence rather than traditional human judging panels.

The publication says the move was made to protect credibility, ensure fairness and maintain the integrity of the brand.

Speaking openly about the decision, founder of Real Estate Today, Nic Fren, said the current awards landscape across the real estate industry has, in many cases, lost its meaning.

That is not a criticism of awards nights themselves. They serve an important role. They are valuable opportunities to come together, to socialise, to network and to reflect on the year with colleagues across offices, states and even countries.

Some of these events are genuinely excellent nights and play a meaningful role in maintaining industry connection.

However, when it comes to the awards themselves, that is where scrutiny is required.

“I look at the awards landscape at the moment and, in many cases, the credibility simply is not there,” Fren said.

“You see the same names winning the same awards year after year, without clear alignment to real outcomes or measurable industry impact.”

According to Fren, the issue is not a shortage of innovation or leadership within the industry. It is the way recognition is being determined.

“There was an awards event last year where a winner was announced, and there were numerous people in that room who had driven genuine change, delivered tangible progress and introduced meaningful innovation, yet were overlooked,” he said. “That disconnect is hard to ignore.”

Fren said concerns around judging integrity have become increasingly visible.

“We are told that conflicts of interest are declared and that judges step aside where appropriate,” he said. “In practice, that is often not happening. When judges and winners have close personal or social relationships, it undermines confidence in the outcome, regardless of intent.”

The consequences of that environment, Fren said, are evident.

“I have seen people quietly leave awards rooms,” he said. “That behaviour reflects a loss of trust, and that is not something we are willing to accept or normalise.”

Transparency, he said, has always been central to the Real Estate Today ethos.

“We do not claim to be perfect, and we have never pretended otherwise,” Fren said. “But we are committed to being transparent, to acknowledging shortcomings and to improving openly.

That approach is why the industry has engaged with us and continues to do so.”

The decision to use AI judging was made to remove human bias, politics and perception from the process and refocus attention on the work itself.

“AI allows submissions to be assessed on merit,” Fren said. “On execution, impact, momentum and results. Not on reputation, relationships or presentation polish.”

Under the Trailblazer Awards framework, AI evaluates entries against defined criteria aligned directly to innovation, outcomes and contribution to industry progress. Human involvement is limited to administrative processes, including the creation of winners’ badges, with factual checks conducted where possible.

“What we are not interested in is a system where access to resources or professional submission writing determines the outcome,” Fren said. “Recognition should be based on substance, not spend.”

Fren said this approach is particularly important for emerging leaders.

“There is a new generation coming through this industry bringing fresh thinking and real energy,” he said. “They deserve recognition based on what they are building and delivering, not whether they are connected to the right people.”

He said the Trailblazer Awards were designed to recognise progress, not popularity.

“Real Estate Today is not in the business of handing out comfort awards,” Fren said. “We are here to highlight real contribution and real momentum, regardless of profile.”

As the Trailblazer Awards announcement approaches, Real Estate Today said the decision to use AI judging reflects a broader commitment to leadership and accountability.

“In an industry built on trust, credibility matters,” Fren said. “Recognition should mean something. If it does not, then it serves no purpose.”