Fifth Dimension CEO Dr. Kate Jarvis on What it Takes to Generate ROI From AI in CRE
Dr. Kate Jarvis is the CEO and co-founder of Fifth Dimension, an agentic AI platform built for commercial real estate investment managers, asset managers, and brokers. Fifth Dimension structures data from ERPs, CRMs, spreadsheets, PDFs, and email into a unified system of record, then deploys pre-built agents against the most commonly automated workflows in the industry. Prior to founding Fifth Dimension, Jarvis spent roughly a decade working at the intersection of financial services and commercial real estate technology. The company raised $26 million in 2026 and counts Boston Property Group, Realty Income, and Peachtree Group among its clients. Kate is based in London, England. Recorded live from the floor at CREtech NY.
(02:37) Fifth Dimension's platform for CRE investment management
(04:26) Why human judgment won't go away
(07:18) Are chatbots overrated?
(10:25) When generalist AI is enough
(13:08) Zero-permissions framework for deploying AI agents
(14:41) Audit trails and the SEC's scrutiny of AI in finance
(18:13) Two paths to AI adoption: task efficiency vs. process reinvention
(21:05) How to evaluate AI vendors in a demo-fatigued market
(23:56) The model library: translating Excel models to auditable code
(25:21) Collaboration Superpower: Michel de Montaigne
🏙️ In-person Events:
-Finance Forum: NYC | 11/3
-State of Office Forum: NYC | 11/4
-Breakthrough Awards Breakfast | NYC | 12/2
-All upcoming Commercial Observer events
🏙️ Virtual Events:
-AI & Real Estate: You’ve Hired an Alien Superintelligence. Now What?: 11/10
-Finance Forum: NYC | 11/3
-State of Office Forum: NYC | 11/4
-Breakthrough Awards Breakfast | NYC | 12/2
-All upcoming Commercial Observer events
🏙️ Virtual Events:
-AI & Real Estate: You’ve Hired an Alien Superintelligence. Now What?: 11/10
-AI & Innovation Forum: 11/18