by Carrie J. Little & Dr. Mina Blazy
When I slide into my Tesla, everything just works. The car wakes up as I approach, the doors unlock, and if I forget to roll up the windows—it does it for me. It’s efficient, intuitive, and almost effortless. But then there’s my little 5-speed Fiat. No automation, no sensors, no autopilot. Just me, the road, and the responsibility of driving. I have to turn the key, shift the gears, and stay fully present.
That simple contrast between the Tesla and the Fiat is how I view artificial intelligence. AI is brilliant at automation—it can write, design, summarize, and even suggest strategies—but the moment we hand over full control, we stop thinking critically. Technology was built to assist, not to replace. Like driving the Fiat, using AI as your brainstorm buddy means you’re still the driver. You steer the ideas, direct the strategy, and decide what makes sense. The tech supports you—but your creativity, judgment, and instinct are what keep you safely on the road.
My twin sister, Dr. Mina Jo Blazy, brought this concept to life beautifully with a reference to the movie Wall-E. In that story, humans become so comfortable with automation that they forget how to move, think, and create for themselves. Meanwhile, the robot—Wall-E—develops curiosity, emotion, and purpose. That’s the irony we’re living right now. The tools are getting smarter, but we can’t afford to lose our curiosity.
Mina often reminds me that before AI, before laptops, before even personal computers, there were mainframes—massive machines powered by zeros and ones. They processed data fast but lacked imagination. Generative AI is a new chapter—it doesn’t just process; it partners. It helps us think and create, but only when we stay engaged. Human intelligence still gives technology its meaning.
In real estate, this lesson is especially relevant. We’re running entire businesses out of our phones—marketing, prospecting, managing contracts, and staying active on social media. It’s chaotic. Most days, agents are the CEO, the marketing department, the tech support, and the Uber driver. We’re juggling leads, listings, and paperwork while trying to show up online with a smile.
That’s where AI can actually lighten the load. It can organize your ideas, summarize contracts, draft responses to difficult emails (so you keep your paycheck), and turn raw MLS data into simple, readable market insights. It’s not about removing the human touch—it’s about removing the clutter so your human touch has space to show up.
I use AI to plan social media content, analyze local market data, and generate scripts for short videos. The best part? I can pair it with tools like Canva to design and publish faster. My workflow looks something like this:
- I brainstorm an idea with ChatGPT.
- I refine the concept to sound like me.
- I move the draft into Canva, add visuals, captions, and video clips.
- I schedule it—or go live.
This system has helped me create content that’s not only more consistent but far more impactful. It’s how I’ve reached hundreds of thousands of views on social media before I’ve even finished my morning coffee. But more importantly, it’s helped me think better.
AI has become my creative co-pilot—the one that keeps me organized, pushes new ideas, and keeps me from overthinking. Mina calls it “From Noise to Navigation.” And she’s right. There’s so much noise in the digital world, but AI helps filter it down to clarity. It helps me model, collect, create, and convert ideas into real, tangible actions that move my business forward.
But here’s the caution: AI only works when you do. It won’t replace your work ethic, your storytelling, or your relationships. It can suggest a caption, but it can’t replicate your voice. It can outline your market report, but it can’t shake hands with your client. The human part of the business is still what drives connection—and connection drives conversion.
If you’re just getting started with AI, start small. Use it to draft your next email, summarize your last transaction, or brainstorm three ways to follow up with your database. You don’t need to master everything overnight. You just need to start. Like Mina says, “Movement beats perfection every time.”
AI isn’t the enemy—it’s the assistant. But remember, assistants take direction. You lead. You decide what’s valuable, what’s authentic, and what aligns with your goals. Because the moment you stop driving, your business starts coasting—and that’s when creativity dies.
So stay curious. Keep learning. Use AI as your brainstorm buddy, your co-pilot, your creative partner—but always keep your hands on the wheel.
And if you ever forget what that looks like, just picture my little Fiat: me, the open road, no autopilot—just pure focus, creativity, and control. That’s how we keep our edge in this new world. Join us at NAR NXT to here are live talk November 14th 11:30am in Houston TX. https://narnxt.realtor/speaker/dr-mina-blazy/
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Watch the full episode Your AI Brainstorm Buddy on YouTube and follow us:
Together, we’re not just navigating technology—we’re driving it with purpose.
