Shannon Richards Hosts MEREDA Matters Podcast: AI and the Future of Real Estate
April 1, 2026
MEREDA Podcast
A Conversation with Steve Weikal and Caleb Johnson
What does AI actually mean for the people who build, design, and invest in the places we live and work — and what’s hype versus reality? In this episode, we sit down with Steve Weikal, industry chair of MIT’s Real Estate Transformation Lab and managing partner of the MET Fund, alongside Maine-based architect and Woodhull founding partner Caleb Johnson, for a wide-ranging conversation that’s equal parts big-picture thinking and boots-on-the-ground practicality. From the surprising staying power of century-old mill buildings to the looming question of what happens to today’s data centers when the tech moves on, the conversation challenges some of the most fashionable assumptions in real estate right now. Steve and Caleb dig into how AI is reshaping the office market and why placemaking matters more than ever in a work-from-anywhere world. Whether you’re a developer, architect, investor, or just someone trying to understand where all of this is heading, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about the built world around you. Listen to the episode to learn more!
Maine Biz also covered the podcast
MEREDA Podcast Examines AI Influence on Real Estate
In the most recent episode of the Maine Real Estate and Development Association’s ongoing podcast series, “MEREDA Matters,” AI expert Steve Weikal and Portland-based Woodhull founding partner Caleb Johnson discuss how the emerging technology is reshaping Maine’s office market.
Episode 32 looks at what AI means for those who build, design and invest in real estate, and parses the hype versus reality. READ MORE