The real estate media industry is shifting fast — and AI is now a permanent part of the landscape. We can’t change the tide going out or coming in, but we can help you navigate it — and be a safe harbor where new ideas and never-before-thought-of AI + Human workflows can be tested, refined, and deployed.
Every time technology disrupts an industry, it creates new opportunities. The automobile upended the carriage-building business — but it also created entirely new industries, jobs, and skills. We believe the same can be true for real estate media, and we want to build that future with you. We believe that you have unique value, and we don’t believe that will ever go away, but we do think it will shift in the upcoming years.
Here are some of the opportunities we see to help you navigate this new future:
AI + Human Hybrid Workflows
In a matter of months to years, much of the HDR image editing that used to be human edited will shift toward AI models. We’re actively building hybrid workflows where AI takes the first pass, and skilled editors like you bring the work all the way to done — with your style, judgment, and creativity. Imagine working within Pixlmob where AI does an initial edit of a set of images, and then order gets handed to you to finish the job and make it shine! Versatility and collaboration will be key skills in this space. We don’t think AI can ever replace a relationship.
Quality Control for AI
One role we believe could be a strong new business to build as an editor is a Quality Control process for AI orders — where editors review the AI’s outputs, catch its mistakes, and make the adjustments that bring it up to client standards. These would likely pay less per job, but would be much faster to complete and scale.
Think of it as being the final safeguard between AI and the client — a role that AI can’t replace in giving confidence to a photographer that they can deliver their files.
Grow your Video Editing Skills
One thing you can do now is to Grow your Video Editing Skills - We think AI’s ability to disrupt video will come slower. This might be a great time to start exploring and bolstering your video editing skills. We believe AI will eventually disrupt this space as well, but it will remain easier to differentiate yourself from AI competition for years.
Uniquely Human Work
One thing we believe we can do is create clarity about Uniquely Human Work. We believe uniquely human work will always appeal to some people as a differentiator. Just like “organic” or “fair trade” options, we always intend to have a place for uniquely human work. In this mode, we will be looking for ways to showcases truly human edits with no AI assistance.
Humanization
Lastly we believe Pixlmob can help you humanize your service more. We plan to build out new ways to differentiate truly human work, like company bios and other ways to humanize your valuable skills and grow relationships, and we’d love your suggestions on other ways to help you stand out and showcase your value.
Don’t panic.
We will be working hard alongside you to keep humans relevant even as the landscape changes. Don’t beg customers for work. (That's the fastest way to get a US customer to stop working with you.) Don't ask them to not use AI; focus on your value rather than controlling their behavior. Don’t solicit business off the platform; we'll be monitoring this closely during the transition. Do share your feedback. Do consider offering more services if you don’t offer all of them yet. Many of them have no AI model competitors yet.
We Want Your Voice in This
As we design these workflows, we want to know from you:
• How do you want to be able to make your profile stand out?
• What kinds of editing do you think AI can already handle first?
• What could a human do with it afterwards to add value?
• Where can human skills add the most value, creativity, and client trust?
• What “extra” services would make you stand out in a hybrid future?
• What could we help build that would help you stay strong?
Your input will help shape how Pixlmob positions human editing in this new era and you can share it with us here:
Pixlmob’s mission is to be the central hub for real estate media editing — human, hybrid, and AI — hopefully with a vibrant future for human editors many years to come. We can’t ignore the reality of AI’s presence, but we can work together to build the best version of the future for our Property Media community.