This month’s GRC Housing Network webinar dived into how AI has already shifted the ways in which we work within the Housing Association sector and how its capabilities will be harnessed to improve governance practices in the future. Our main focus for this network is sharing best practices and providing space for meaningful discussion and this session was no different!
Exploring the Role of AI in Housing Associations
Arturo opened the session by outlining how AI is currently being used across Housing Associations and what future opportunities may look like.
He began by distinguishing between two types of AI:
- Machine Learning/Narrow AI – already being actively used within the housing sector and is effective even with smaller datasets.
- Generative AI – the newer technology currently being discussed in the news, which can create new documents, images, videos, music, and more based on the data it is trained on.
Although it has been only two years since the launch of ChatGPT, the technology is already recognised as a once-in-a-generation development. Arturo emphasised that organisations must learn how to integrate AI thoughtfully, balancing opportunities for improved efficiency with the need to manage risks around accuracy, security, and the impact on critical services.
Current AI Applications in Housing Associations
Several practical use cases for machine learning AI within Housing Associations were discussed, including:
- Risk verification and rent arrears protection utilise machine learning to estimate where issues will arise.
- Customer segmentation to deliver more personalised services.
- Predicting damp and mould risks by analysing repair data and other property information.
- Computer vision for identifying property maintenance needs based on photographic data (e.g., roof inspections).
- Disrepair case management to help identify potential legal risks early.
Generative AI tools, such as Microsoft Copilot, are already helping Housing Associations to produce meeting summaries, draft documents, and suggest action items. However, concerns around data security mean some organisations have restricted the use of generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, within their networks.
Convene’s Approach to AI: Security, Trust, and Innovation
Convene is committed to supporting Housing Associations as they adopt AI technologies while maintaining the highest standards of security and compliance. Convene is trusted by over 200 Housing Associations across the UK as a Board Portal and ESG reporting solution. Our approach to AI prioritises private deployments, strict data lifespan management, GDPR compliance, and AI-specific non-disclosure agreements. Our AI functionality will be hosted through Amazon Bedrock, ensuring that data remains securely within a private cloud environment and is never used for external model training. Your information will remain confidential and is used solely to optimise services for each organisation. We are also fast at work to ensure we will be compliant with the EU AI safety Act. If you would like to be an early adopter please contact us!
New AI Features in Convene
We shared an overview of the upcoming AI-driven features designed to further support governance teams:
For Administrators:
- Automated meeting summaries capturing key points and decisions.
- Quick access to key discussion points.
- Suggested action items generated from meeting content.
- Immediate production of refined meeting minutes for fast approval.
For Directors:
- Concise content summaries alongside board packs.
- Ability to query documents and reports through a chat-based interface.
- Access to historical information for reference.
- AI chatbot support to assist in navigating meeting materials and reports.
You can watch the webinar in full, here, or down below:
What’s next for Convene’s GRC Network?
We are excited about the future of AI in housing governance and remain committed to providing secure, practical solutions that meet the sector’s evolving needs. We look forward to continuing these important discussions through the GRC Housing Network. Our next webinar will be about ESG Reporting and we will be joined by Anna Haskins from The Good Economy to discuss the future of the SRS and ESG in Housing. Sign up here!
