December 2025 CT

The Ethical Boundaries of Artificial Intelligence in the Community Association Industry By Andrew J. Podolski, Esq., Stark & Stark, PC

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“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” — Isaac Asimov (1974)

Tasha Art/iStock / Getty Images Plus

A rtificial intelligence (AI) is transforming how profes sionals across nearly all industries work — includ ing those who serve common interest community associations. Attorneys, engineers, accountants and property managers are discovering new ways to use AI to increase efficiency, accuracy and responsiveness. Yet, with these benefits comes a fundamental ethical question: How much reliance is too much? When does convenience cross the line into professional misconduct? This article explores the ethical implications of AI in the community association industry, outlining appropriate and reasonable uses of the technology, as well as scenarios where overreliance can lead to ethical pitfalls. The Promise of AI: Efficiency and Insight AI tools can streamline many aspects of professional life in community associations. Used responsibly, they can enhance — but not replace — human judgment. For instance:

• Attorneys can use AI-powered legal research tools to quickly identify relevant statutes, regulations and case law, helping them advise boards more efficiently. • Engineers can apply AI for data modeling or to predict reserve and maintenance needs by analyzing patterns in building component performance and useful lives. • Accountants can use AI to automate routine reconcilia tions, detect anomalies in voluminous association records and enhance financial accuracy for associations. • Property managers can leverage AI-driven communica tion tools to schedule maintenance, answer common resident inquiries and maintain a level of organization and prioritization that would otherwise be daunting, particularly in a very large community. In each of these examples, AI can augment, not super sede, a professional’s expertise. It handles repetitive or

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DECEMBER 2025