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The AI Edge Podcast: CRE & AI

The AI Edge Podcast: CRE & AI

By: The AI Edge Podcast
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Real conversations with founders, operators, clinicians, and service-based business leaders who scale through systems, innovation, and practical execution.

Hosted by Louis Fernandes, Co-Founder of Edge Partners AI, this show dives into what it really takes to grow, adapt, and win in today’s fast-changing world — without the fluff, hype, or buzzword circus.

This is not a “tech for tech’s sake” podcast.
This is real-world AI & operations for real operators.

🚀 What You’ll Get in Every Episode

Each conversation is a deep dive into:

• The true drivers of scale (systems, processes, execution)
• How founders and operators navigate uncertainty
• The workflows, habits, and business mechanics behind growth
• What’s breaking down inside today’s service businesses — and how to fix it
• The practical role AI now plays in intake, reception, scheduling, operations, and customer experience
• How leaders think, decide, hire, implement, adapt, and stay ahead

Whether you run a dental practice, medical office, behavioral health clinic, med spa, home services company, or any business that relies on consistent operations and customer experience — these conversations will give you clarity, strategy, and an unfair advantage.

🧠 The Edge Philosophy

Business gets easier when:

• Intake is automatic
• Communication is consistent
• Customers never slip through the cracks
• Teams aren’t drowning in admin
• Owners have systems that run 24/7
• The business finally stops depending on YOU

This show explores how leaders build that reality through:

• AI receptionist systems
• Workflow automation
• Modern operations strategies
• Scalable processes
• Team efficiency
• Customer experience design
• Intelligent decision frameworks

The goal is simple:
Give you the “edge” you need to grow without burning out.

🎤 Conversations With People Who Are Actually Doing It

Guests include:

• Founders who built multi-location practices
• Healthcare & wellness leaders improving patient experience
• Home service owners scaling through systems
• Behavioral health executives rethinking intake & operations
• Med spa operators growing without chaos
• Real estate + business leaders building for the long-term
• Innovators using AI to remove bottlenecks, not jobs
• CEOs & operators known for execution, not talk

They share:
What worked. What failed. What changed everything.
And exactly how you can implement the same principles.

🔧 For the Operator Who Wants More

This podcast is for you if you’re the kind of leader who:

• Wants fewer bottlenecks and more freedom
• Hates wasted motion and broken operations
• Believes in systems over chaos
• Knows AI can help but wants someone who speaks plainly
• Wants to scale without adding more stress
• Values real conversations over theory

Every episode gives you a new lens, a new tactic, or a new way forward.

👑 About the Host

Louis Fernandes is a founder, operator, and systems strategist who helps service-based businesses automate intake, reception, and operations using practical AI systems through Edge Partners AI.

He brings a sharp, grounded, conversational approach — keeping the show relatable, tactical, and anchored in real experience.

No jargon.
No hype.
No sales pitch.
Just wisdom, strategy, and the truth about what it takes to grow a business today.

2025 The AI Edge Podcast Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Your Building Is Dumber Than Your Car. That’s a $1 Billion Problem.

    Your Building Is Dumber Than Your Car. That’s a $1 Billion Problem.
    Jun 21 2026

    Your car can tell you exactly what’s wrong before it breaks down.

    So why are billion-dollar buildings still operating blind?

    🎧 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

    In this mind-blowing episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Jack Illes, Founder & Managing Partner of Smart City Labs, to explore how AI is transforming the future of real estate, buildings, and entire cities.

    Jack makes a bold claim:

    The average car is smarter than the building you’re sitting in right now.

    And that’s creating massive inefficiencies, lost NOI, unnecessary energy costs, and billions of dollars in untapped opportunity.

    We dive into how Smart City Labs is bringing buildings to life using:

    • AI-powered cognitive digital twins
    • Local LLMs that capture institutional knowledge
    • IoT sensors and intelligent infrastructure
    • Energy optimization that can reduce costs by 10–30%
    • Real-time building intelligence
    • Digital experiences that transform hotels, retail, and cities


    Jack explains why the future of real estate is not just about owning physical assets — it’s about owning intelligent assets.

    We also discuss:

    • Why old buildings risk becoming stranded assets
    • The hidden connection between AI, energy, and property value
    • How data centers, smart infrastructure, and digital ecosystems are reshaping communities
    • Why AI won’t replace humans — but people who understand AI will replace those who don’t


    If you own real estate, operate properties, develop communities, invest in infrastructure, or simply want to understand where the built world is headed…

    This conversation will change the way you see every building around you.

    👤 ABOUT THE GUEST

    Jack Illes is the Founder & Managing Partner of Smart City Labs, a real estate technology company focused on creating intelligent infrastructure for buildings, districts, and cities.

    With a career spanning real estate development, urban planning, retail destinations, hospitality, and emerging technology, Jack sits at the intersection of the physical and digital worlds.

    Through Smart City Labs, he helps owners transform traditional properties into intelligent assets using AI, digital twins, IoT networks, immersive media, and connected infrastructure.

    ----------------------------------------

    🔗 FOLLOW JACK ILLES

    LinkedIn: / jackilles

    Smart City Labs: https://smart-citylabs.com/

    Email: mailto:jack@smart-citylabs.com
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • The $1 Million Property Mistake Most Owners Don't See Until It's Too Late

    The $1 Million Property Mistake Most Owners Don't See Until It's Too Late
    Jun 19 2026

    Most property owners don't realize they have a problem until the day their building stops working.

    A failed HVAC system. A leak nobody can find. A medical facility forced to shut down operations.

    By the time the emergency happens, the real mistake was made months earlier.

    In this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Jamie Baker explains why the best property managers don't just respond to problems — they predict and prevent them.

    Jamie Baker is the President of Lee & Associates Property Management and leads a rapidly growing platform serving commercial real estate owners across North and South Carolina.

    After navigating personal tragedy, a major business merger, and the expansion of a 34-person team, Jamie shares the lessons he learned about resilience, leadership, scaling operations, and building partnerships where everyone's incentives are aligned.

    We discuss:

    • The biggest mistake commercial property owners make
    • Why preventative maintenance saves millions
    • How AI is eliminating manual work inside property management
    • Why communication separates average operators from great ones
    • The challenges of scaling a people-first service business
    • Lessons from leading through loss, change, and growth
    • How technology will reshape the future of commercial real estate operations

    Whether you're an investor, owner, operator, or entrepreneur, this conversation is a masterclass in building resilient systems and long-term relationships.

    About The Guest

    Jamie Baker

    President, Lee & Associates Property Management

    Jamie Baker has over 20 years of experience in property and asset management.

    He leads Lee & Associates Property Management's expansion across the Carolinas, overseeing retail, industrial, office, medical, and specialized facilities.

    His team combines local ownership with national reach, delivering high-touch property management focused on operational excellence, preventative maintenance, and long-term client partnerships.

    Connect With Jamie Baker

    Website:
    https://www.lee-associates.com/raleigh/

    LinkedIn:
    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-baker/

    Company:
    https://www.lundygroup.com/
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
  • A Process That Took 8 Weeks... AI Did It In 3 Days

    A Process That Took 8 Weeks... AI Did It In 3 Days
    Jun 12 2026

    A commercial real estate process that used to take 4–8 weeks was completed in just 3 days using AI.

    When Christopher Pardo saw it happen, his reaction was simple:

    "This is the future."

    On this episode of The AI Edge Podcast, Louis Fernandes sits down with Christopher Pardo, Managing Partner of Invictus Real Estate Partners.

    Chris has spent decades navigating real estate cycles as a developer, lender, investor, and operator. Today Invictus invests across private credit, construction lending, bridge financing, and multifamily real estate opportunities throughout the Eastern United States.

    In this conversation we discuss:

    • Why AI is dramatically changing commercial real estate underwriting
    • How one operator compressed a process from 8 weeks to 3 days
    • What separates disciplined lenders from reckless lenders
    • The biggest mistakes developers are making right now
    • Why Chris believes relationships and discipline matter more than speed
    • How Invictus evaluates risk in today's market
    • The future of multifamily, private credit, and development

    If you're involved in commercial real estate, lending, development, capital raising, or AI, this conversation is packed with practical insights from someone actively deploying capital in today's market.

    Christopher Pardo
    Managing Partner
    Invictus Real Estate Partners

    📧 Chris@Invictus-REP.com

    💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-pardo-23495a1b/

    🌐 Invictus Real Estate Partners

    #CommercialRealEstate #AI #PrivateCredit #Multifamily #RealEstateInvesting #Development #CapitalMarkets #AIinCRE #TheAIEdgePodcast
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
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