- Rightmove, one of the UK’s biggest online property platforms, is integrating Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence into its search experience. (UKTN)
- The rollout is part of an AI-powered conversational search tool in beta, designed to let users interact with listings and search properties using natural language — similar to asking questions in a chat. (Estate Agent Today)
- This feature reflects one of the first major consumer-facing deployments of Google’s advanced AI on a UK proptech site. (AIM Group)
How Gemini Will Be Used
- Instead of traditional keyword search, users can ask conversational queries like “Show me three-bedroom homes under £400k near good schools” and get results in a more interactive format. (Estate Agent Today)
- Gemini’s language models power the AI to understand intent, refine questions, and respond with precise property suggestions — effectively turning property search into a dialogue rather than a filter-only experience. (AIM Group)
Current Status: Beta Experiment
- The conversational search feature is currently in a beta or experimental phase, meaning wider availability and refinements are expected before a full launch. (Estate Agent Today)
- Rightmove hasn’t confirmed exact dates for full rollout, but early tests are already live on the platform. (AIM Group)
Why This Matters
1. A Shift in Property Search UX
Traditional property portals rely on filters and listings — this integration lets users explain what they want in plain English, with AI interpreting intent and returning focused results. (Estate Agent Today)
2. Competitive Edge in Proptech
By embedding Gemini, Rightmove positions itself as an innovator among UK property sites, especially as AI begins reshaping search, engagement, and lead generation across real estate platforms. (AIM Group)
3. AI Meets Real-World Consumer Tools
This move shows next-gen AI moving beyond standalone assistants and into everyday digital services — where Gemini can help with complex decision-making tasks like property selection. (UKTN)
Industry & Market Context
AI adoption in property tech is accelerating. Even beyond Rightmove’s implementation, tools that apply machine learning to listings, valuations, and search demand are spreading quickly as agents and portals look for ways to enhance user experience and drive conversions. (Property Industry Eye)
Integrating a major model like Gemini signals that large AI systems are entering mainstream consumer platforms and not just enterprise internal tools — which could influence how digital property platforms evolve over the next few years. (Estate Agent Today)
Summary
- Rightmove is experimenting with a Gemini-powered conversational property search in the UK. (Estate Agent Today)
- The feature allows users to search for properties by simply talking or typing naturally instead of using rigid search filters. (AIM Group)
- This marks a significant moment for AI in property technology, as global language models like Gemini move into mainstream digital services. (UKTN)
Here’s a case-study overview with real comments and industry context on how Google’s Gemini AI is being integrated into one of the UK’s biggest property technology (proptech) platforms — Rightmove — and what stakeholders are saying about it:
Case Study: Google Gemini Integration on Rightmove
Background – What Is Being Built
Rightmove has launched a beta version of an AI-powered conversational property search tool built in collaboration with Google Cloud and powered by Google’s Gemini AI models. This feature lets users describe what they want in plain English — such as “a three-bed Victorian terrace near good schools with a big garden” — and receive personalised property results, rather than relying only on traditional filters. (AIM Group)
Development Status: The feature is currently in beta testing and being rolled out gradually to users. (Letting Agent Today)
How the System Works
- Natural-language queries: Users can type (or potentially speak) descriptive requests in their own words.
- Conversational refinement: The tool adjusts suggestions as the user refines their language or adds preferences.
- Side-by-side search: It runs alongside normal filters, so traditional search still exists.
- AI context understanding: It uses Gemini’s language models to interpret intent and match relevant listings from Rightmove’s existing data. (clickmediagroup.co.uk)
Comments From Company Leaders
Rightmove Leadership
Tarah Lourens, Chief Technology and Operations Officer at Rightmove:
“We’re constantly innovating to evolve the home-moving experience, increasingly using AI to enhance property search by leveraging our leading data and personalisation capabilities alongside Google’s latest technology offering. This latest launch caters to the growing interest in description-based search.” (AIM Group)
This statement highlights that Rightmove sees AI as a complement to existing search, not a replacement, and anticipates iterative improvements based on user interactions. (Letting Agent Today)
Google Cloud
Maureen Costello, Vice President, UKI and SSA at Google Cloud:
“Rightmove’s new AI property search experience is a prime example of how technology can simplify life’s big decisions. With this innovation, complex searches like finding specific property attributes become faster, easier and more engaging.” (Property Soup)
This reinforces Google’s positioning of Gemini as a tool to interpret user intent and make digital experiences feel more intuitive.
What Experts and Users Are Saying
Industry Observers
Tech commentators on LinkedIn are split on the impact:
- Some argue it’s a natural next step for search and could bring significant value by reducing the complexity of finding homes.
- Others raise questions about bias or accuracy, wondering whether AI-driven suggestions might prioritise some listings or get inaccurate results, emphasizing that human insight and filters still matter. (LinkedIn)
Property Marketing Insight
Marketing specialists note that conversational search could change how estate agents and sellers think about listing content — for example, ensuring photos and descriptions clearly surface features that AI could interpret as buyer intent signals (natural light, garden size, room layout). (clickmediagroup.co.uk)
Comparison With Broader Proptech Trends
Industry snapshot:
- Beyond the UK, other major property portals globally (such as Redfin in the US) are adding AI integrations — e.g., AI search experiences within ChatGPT to let users refine listings and receive contextual property insights. (Online Marketplaces)
- These integrations reflect a broader shift toward AI-assisted discovery rather than forcing users through strict filter interfaces.
Rightmove’s approach stands out in the UK because it pairs deep property portal data with Gemini’s natural-language capabilities, positioning it as a leading experiment in how AI could reshape online real estate search.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Implication |
|---|---|
| User Experience | Conversational search reduces friction using natural language instead of technical filters. (AIM Group) |
| Technology Strategy | Rightmove balances AI innovation with traditional search capabilities — viewing AI as enhancement not replacement. (Letting Agent Today) |
| Industry Reaction | Experts see potential but warn about AI-prioritisation biases and the need for clear listing data. (LinkedIn) |
| Market Context | The Rightmove integration mirrors a global trend toward conversational AI in property search. (Online Marketplaces) |
Why It Matters
This integration is one of the first major consumer-facing uses of Google’s advanced AI models in a UK proptech context — moving beyond simple filters and search boxes to understand intent and nuance in home-hunting. It could redefine how people interact with property sites and how agents optimise their listings for AI discovery.