Cushman & Wakefield Launches AI Impact Barometer

24 Feb 2026 CW Team

The Barometer groups indicators into themes such as AI adoption, capital investment, labour market shifts and infrastructure demand and translates them into AI momentum scores that indicate direction and intensity of impact. The scores are designed to show where AI is creating demand, where it is creating pressure, and how those forces are appearing in property markets. The model highlights sectors including data centres, industrial and office.

Early insights indicate that key metrics for the sustainability of the AI driven data centre boom remain positive, with pre-commitment rates for projects under construction continuing to trend favourably even as new investment enters the sector. Bulk distribution centres built since 2020 typically offer more than 20 per cent higher electrical supply per square foot than earlier stock, positioning them for stronger leasing as warehouse automation advances. The Barometer also shows that AI is amplifying office market polarisation, with leasing and investment improving for prime properties in technology innovation hubs while obsolescence risk is increasing for lower quality space. More broadly, AI is emerging as a long term demand engine but its benefits are uneven across sectors and asset classes.

The initiative is part of Cushman & Wakefield's Think Tank programme and the firm plans regular updates to the model and further research and thought leadership through 2026. The firm reported revenue of Rs10.3 billion (bn) in 2025 and retains approximately 53,000 employees across over 350 offices in nearly 60 countries, which positions it to provide perspective. The Barometer is intended to support decisions by translating complex indicators into practical guidance for investors and occupiers. Further information and findings will be provided through the firm's research channels and events.

Cushman & Wakefield has launched the AI Impact Barometer, a data driven tool designed to quantify artificial intelligence momentum across the built environment. The tool brings together economic, capital markets and property indicators to help investors, occupiers and developers assess where AI is shifting from experimentation into core business infrastructure. The firm said the model is intended to create consensus towards action. The Barometer groups indicators into themes such as AI adoption, capital investment, labour market shifts and infrastructure demand and translates them into AI momentum scores that indicate direction and intensity of impact. The scores are designed to show where AI is creating demand, where it is creating pressure, and how those forces are appearing in property markets. The model highlights sectors including data centres, industrial and office. Early insights indicate that key metrics for the sustainability of the AI driven data centre boom remain positive, with pre-commitment rates for projects under construction continuing to trend favourably even as new investment enters the sector. Bulk distribution centres built since 2020 typically offer more than 20 per cent higher electrical supply per square foot than earlier stock, positioning them for stronger leasing as warehouse automation advances. The Barometer also shows that AI is amplifying office market polarisation, with leasing and investment improving for prime properties in technology innovation hubs while obsolescence risk is increasing for lower quality space. More broadly, AI is emerging as a long term demand engine but its benefits are uneven across sectors and asset classes. The initiative is part of Cushman & Wakefield's Think Tank programme and the firm plans regular updates to the model and further research and thought leadership through 2026. The firm reported revenue of Rs10.3 billion (bn) in 2025 and retains approximately 53,000 employees across over 350 offices in nearly 60 countries, which positions it to provide perspective. The Barometer is intended to support decisions by translating complex indicators into practical guidance for investors and occupiers. Further information and findings will be provided through the firm's research channels and events.

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