Cushman & Wakefield Launches AI Impact Barometer to Track Where AI Is Driving CRE Demand, Risk and Opportunity
NEW YORK, February 19, 2026 - Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) has introduced the AI Impact Barometer, a data-driven model built to show how artificial intelligence is moving from pilots to core business infrastructure - and how that shift is influencing space demand across data centers, industrial, and office.
Instead of chasing one headline metric, the Barometer blends economic, capital markets, labor, and property indicators into clear themes. Those inputs are translated into easy-to-read "AI momentum scores" that show both direction and intensity of impact across sectors and markets.
"AI is no longer a future concept. It is becoming a structural force in the economy," said Kevin Thorpe, Global Chief Economist. "Our AI Impact Barometer is designed to cut through the noise and give clients a clear, data-driven way to see where AI is driving growth, where it is creating pressure, and how those forces are showing up in the built environment."
Early signals from the Barometer
- Data centers: Key indicators for the sustainability of the current build cycle - including pre-commitment rates on projects under construction - remain healthy even as new capital pours into the sector.
- Industrial: Bulk distribution centers delivered since 2020 typically offer 20%+ higher electrical supply per square foot than prior stock, positioning these assets for outsize leasing as automation advances.
- Office: AI is amplifying existing polarization. Leasing and investment for prime assets in tech hubs are improving, while obsolescence risk is rising for lower-quality space.
- Big picture: AI is emerging as a long-term demand engine, but gains are uneven across sectors and asset classes.
How the model works
The AI Impact Barometer groups indicators into four practical lenses: AI adoption, capital investment, labor market shifts, and infrastructure demand. Scores roll up to show where momentum is building (or fading) and where it's most intense.
The firm's Think Tank will refresh the model regularly and publish additional research throughout 2026 to track how AI continues to influence markets and investment decisions.
"Our goal is simple," said Abby Corbett, Principal Economist, Head of Investor Insights. "We want to give clients a practical, credible way to track how one of the biggest economic shifts of our time is playing out in real estate, and what to do about it."
What this means for real estate and construction teams
- Data centers: Watch pre-commitment rates and power availability first. Sites and assets that scale electrical capacity efficiently are positioned to win.
- Industrial: Audit power density across your warehouse portfolio. Post-2020 bulk buildings with higher electrical capacity will see stronger automation-driven demand.
- Office: Double down on prime, tech-adjacent product with strong specs and amenities. For lower-quality assets, act early - upgrade, repurpose, or exit.
- Capital allocation: Use momentum signals (adoption, capex flows, labor shifts, infrastructure demand) to prioritize markets and time entries, not just chase yield.
What's next
Cushman & Wakefield will continue updating the AI Impact Barometer and expand its thought leadership throughout the year. An overview webinar is scheduled for Monday, February 23 at 10 AM CST.
About Cushman & Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a global commercial real estate services firm for occupiers and investors with approximately 53,000 employees across 350+ offices in nearly 60 countries. In 2025, the firm reported $10.3 billion in revenue across Services, Leasing, Capital Markets, and Valuation and other.
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