When people talk about “smart buildings,” they often point to lights that dim automatically, thermostats adjusting on their own, or apps that let employees book desks — capabilities now considered baseline. The next chapter is autonomy: buildings powered by a unified data-driven core that don’t just respond, but learn, predict and act to enhance efficiency.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the brain within this core. By integrating and analyzing data across HVAC, lighting, occupancy and safety systems, AI reveals patterns humans can’t detect. The result: buildings that operate with greater independence, delivering more substantial returns through lower operational costs, improved tenant satisfaction and enhanced long-term asset value.

One example is 45 Broadway, a 32-story office building in Manhattan, where an AI-powered optimization layer cut HVAC energy consumption by nearly 16 percent in just 11 months for an annual savings of about $42,000, and a 37-metri