The narrative around AI and the workplace is often framed asa threat to office demand, but the data tells a very different story.
In this episode of the BCO’s Office Matters podcast, BCO chief executive Samantha McClary sits down with CoStar's, Patrick Scanlon, to explore why AI firms are becoming some of London's most active occupiers, what the latest leasing trendsreveal about the future of offices, and why location, connectivity and collaboration remain as important as ever.
From the rise of AI clusters to the hidden signals buried in market data, Scanlon shares a data-led perspective on where the workplace market is heading next.
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Why AI is creating office demand, not destroying it
Contrary to predictions that AI would reduce the need forworkplaces, CoStar's data shows a sharp increase in office take-up from pure-play AI companies. Scanlon highlights a tenfold increase in take-up between February and April, with firms taking significant space and, in many cases, committing to long-term occupation in London and other leading UKinnovation hubs.
The real trend is a flight to location, not just quality
While "flight to quality" has dominated workplace discussions in recent years, Scanlon argues the stronger driver is geography. Occupiers continue to prioritise well-connected city-centre locations with strong amenities, talent pools and transport links. Prime buildings matter, but being in the right place matters even more.
Data tells the story—but context matters
One of Scanlon's key messages is that market data should never be viewed in isolation. Sentiment surveys, headlines and market narratives can paint a misleading picture. By combining real-time data with conversations across the market, analysts can identify genuine inflection points and emerging trends, helping businesses make better long-term decisions in an increasingly uncertain environment.
And yes, while the name of our podcast may have changed, we promise the quality of the conversation hasn’t.
Enjoy.
