Property portal Rightmove has significantly advanced its artificial intelligence capabilities by integrating its 'Ask Rightmove' conversational search tool directly into individual property listings. This expansion allows prospective buyers and renters to ask specific questions about a home or its local area and receive instant, AI-generated responses. The feature, which initially launched on the Rightmove homepage earlier this year, is now being rolled out across the platform as part of a phased release to users.
The AI tool is designed to provide comprehensive answers by combining detailed information from the property listing itself with broader local area data and relevant property market insights. For instance, users can inquire about the proximity of local supermarkets or ascertain if a driveway can accommodate multiple vehicles. This initiative aims to empower home-movers with more robust information, enabling them to make better-informed decisions before engaging directly with estate agents or property developers. Early data suggests that users interacting with the AI search functionality exhibit a stronger intent to purchase or rent.
This innovative feature has been developed through a collaboration with Google Cloud, leveraging Google's Gemini models and the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform. The technology integrates Rightmove's extensive property information with geospatial data sourced from Google Maps to generate highly relevant and contextualised responses. This partnership underscores a growing trend in the property technology sector towards enhancing user experience through advanced AI.
The integration of 'Ask Rightmove' into listings is a key component of Rightmove's wider AI strategy. This broader strategy also encompasses its ChatGPT app, along with other AI-driven tools such as 'AI Keywords' and 'Style with AI'. Furthermore, Rightmove is developing agent-facing products, including 'Opportunity Manager' and 'Rightmove Discover', which are designed to assist agents in identifying potential sellers and streamlining administrative tasks, ultimately improving efficiency within the property industry.
Tarah Lourens, chief technology and operations officer at Rightmove, highlighted the importance of understanding a property's fit for unique requirements and learning about the surrounding area. She stated that this latest innovation allows home-hunters to gain this understanding in their own words, ensuring they do not miss crucial information provided by agents. The company plans to continue developing and testing 'Ask Rightmove' to optimise the user experience on its platform. Maureen Costello, vice president, UKI and SSA at Google Cloud, added that their collaboration with Rightmove focuses on adding local depth to listings, providing home-hunters with a clearer, more practical picture of a property's surroundings.