Artificial intelligence implementers have found a new application — helping investors suss out CEOs. The Financial Times reported at length how AI tools can monitor voice recordings for changes in pitch, volume, and speed of speech to better identify the true emotions of top executives, comparing what they're saying to what they may be feeling.

When Francis deSouza, CEO of gene sequencing company Illumina, was on an earnings call, analysts asked about various sources of friction and criticism. He tried to pass it off as nothing. But David Pope, chief data scientist for Speech Craft Analytics, which does AI-enabled voice analysis, told the Financial Times that the sum of vocal characteristics in how he spoke "betrays signs of anxiety and tension specifically when addressing this sensitive issue." Two months later, deSouza resigned.

Fine for big equity investors but expect similar technologies to help CRE professionals better negotiate, work with tenants, and interact with business partners. At the same time, it would be reckless to think that other technology won't help mask what is going on.