Transforming Work with Sophie Wade 158: Anthony Slumbers - From Buildings to Experiences: How AI is Powering Space as a Service
Antony Slumbers is a global keynote speaker on AI in real estate and pioneering voice behind 'Space as a Service.' He explores how different tiers of office buildings are evolving to meet human- and task-centric work needs. Drawing on deep experience as a Proptech entrepreneur, Antony discusses how AI and digital tools are transforming static real estate assets into dynamic environments supporting workers cognitive capacity, productivity, and wellbeing. He shares how shifting real estate models—from bonds to service-based businesses—is essential to attract people back to the office, enhance productivity, and support hybrid and flexible work strategies.
TAKEAWAYS
Chapter 1 - From Art to Real Estate Innovation
[01:26] Antony studies history and art history which sharpens his eye for aesthetics.
[02:01] Antony starts work at an art gallery then enters real estate unexpectedly through an client.
[03:27] An epiphany that the internet has great potential for real estate coordination.
[03:57] Antony starts coding then build a web agency focused on serving commercial real estate.
[04:56] A partnership with British Land to develop digital property management tools.
Chapter 2 - Reframing Real Estate: Space as a Service
[06:01] Antony coins "Space as a Service" to reframe office thinking and real estate mindsets.
[06:56] Real estate starts shifting from bond-based investments to human experience businesses.
[08:26] Buildings must support focus, collaboration, and task-based work types.
[09:13] Pure Adam Smith - productivity depends on environments that support individual output.
[10:30] Office buildings must attract people. They have purpose, but they're no longer needed.
[12:30] Hybrid working existed pre-COVID, but the pandemic proved remote work works.
[13:20] Most corporations continue to mismanage hybrid work having had years to improve.
[13:51] Only top-tier offices and flex space providers now fit workers needs and desires.
[14:40] A significant portion of office spaces today are functionally obsolete.
[16:23] Flex offices fit needs well but are expensive to operate based on high expectations.
Chapter 3 - Technology, AI, and Smart Environments
[17:40] Predictive AI can be used at once but needs much data, now possible within building environments.
[19:22] Generative AI is a thinking partner to enhance any language, code and audio task.
[21:04] Antony's six PropTech pillars include sustainability, wellbeing, technology and flexibility.
[24:45] Smart buildings must adjust to maintain cognitive performance levels.
[25:40] Top tier offices will start guaranteeing environmental conditions to support performance.
[27:16] AI enables mass personalization based on user behaviour patterns.
[28:13] Next step: buildings respond to what users plan to do.
[29:58] Trust is critical for personalized data-driven space services.
[32:19] Personas help anonymise data for tailored building experiences.
[32:36] Antony disagrees with surveillance and advocates for trust-based data sharing.
Chapter 4 - Connection, Community, and Purposeful Space
[34:09] Individual top-tier buildings will draw tenants by enabling industry-specific performance.
[34:56] Buildings as a connector, matchmaking tenants for networking and collaboration.
[36:19] AI can suggest connections through apps or curated events such as lunch and learns.
[40:51] Construction City example shows design drives chance interactions and community.
Chapter 5 - Workforce Strategy and AI Readiness
[42:49] Many employers aren't honest about why they are using AI and the workforce impact.
[43:42] Fewer people may be needed as each person become much more productive with AI.
[44:10] Companies must redeploy talent instead of cutting staff.
[45:45] Some use AI to grow; others shrink workforce.
[48:11] Small firms can become agile with AI-powered super teams.
[50:22] AI fluency matters—employees not engaging with AI risk falling behind.
[52:01] Everyone must upskill individually to stay competitive.
IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP: Gather data and talent inputs to analyse and discover how your offices can be designed to actively support your teams' office-based work.
RESOURCES
QUOTES
"You've got to make a building that people really, really want to go to because they don't need it anymore."
"Generative AI is really good for mass personalization because it can understand data and break it down at a very granular level."
"Real estate was going to move from being about a bond to a business."
"Health and wellbeing doesn't just happen in a building. You are controlling the environmental conditions in which someone works."
"You are paying someone a hell of a lot of money to be there, so if their cognitive capabilities are downgraded 10%, you are actually costing yourself money."
"We will start to get to that base level—perfect conditions for whatever it is you need to do at the time."