Spark Notes with a robotics research feature and JLL Spark’s 2026 forecast
Spark Notes with a robotics research feature and JLL Spark’s 2026 forecast
Welcome 2026! It’s only fitting that we open the new year with our predictions on trending topics in CRE and venture circles.
We polled the JLL Spark team for their outlook on AI’s transformation of CRE, industry tech adoption and implementation, and exit expectations. What were the overall sentiments and who carried the outlying opinions? Find out in 2026 industry forecasts from the JLL Spark team.
FEATURED RESEARCH: Is the tipping point for robotics in real estate coming? The rediscovery of robotics as physical AI
Traditional robots have been around in commercial real estate for years, doing tasks like construction work, cleaning, and building inspections. While functional, the results are not changing the game. Leveraging JLL’s latest Global Technology Survey, authors Yuehan Wang and Christine Langston of JLL’s Global Research team finds that the combination of better technology, willing clients, and proven use cases is creating the perfect storm for robotics to really break through in the commercial real estate world.
PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups
From point solutions to platform thinking
HqO’s latest post on changing the operating model from task optimization to system transformation.
2026 proptech predictions: Anyone up for AI?
OpenSpace CEO and CTO share their predictions with Commercial Observer on tech adoption in the construction industry.
IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL
How $16.7B in 2025 proptech funding is rewiring commercial real estate
JLL Spark investor Ajey Kaushal co-authors the review with CRETI founder and managing director Ashkán Zandieh.
EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events
PropTech Connect Middle East
Dubai, UAE | February 4-5, 2026
Raj Singh is a speaker at the event.
RETCON
Las Vegas, Nevada USA | March 9-11, 2026
Laurent Grill and Ajey Kaushal will attend.
MIPIM
Cannes, France | March 9-13, 2026
Sean Wright and Arnaud Bouzinac will attend.
INDUSTRY NEWS
CRE and technology topics on our radar
The built economy: How vertical AI is unlocking the biggest untapped market in trades and construction
signalfire.com | December 2, 2025
In AI boom, venture capital firms are raising loads more money
nytimes.com | December 15, 2025
Commercial real estate outlook 2026: Analysts see signs of recovery
thestreet.com | December 17, 2025
Office occupancy trends and insights
propmodo.com | December 17, 2025
The AI boom is opening up commercial real-estate investing to new risks
wsj.com | December 22, 2025
2025 was the year we stopped talking about the ‘return-to-the-office’
propmodo.com | December 29, 2025
Data centers continue to vacuum up the investment dollars — is the return worth it?
commercialobserver.com | January 5, 2026
To learn more about JLL Spark, visit our website or email us at contact.spark@jll.com.
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