{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"FinAi Podcast","title":"Customer-facing AI reshapes mortgage lending, Newrez CIO says","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1171,"description":"Mortgage lender Newrez has received a positive response to its customer-facing AI tool, signaling a shift in how people buy homes.  \n \nNewrez launched Rezi Mortgage Assistant, its customized ChatGPT tool, in May, and has seen “plenty of usage,” Chief Information Officer Brian Woodring tells FinAi News on the latest episode of the “FinAi Podcast.” \n \n“That trend of the more sophisticated and informed consumer is going to accelerate,” Woodring says.  \n \nNewrez originated $63.3 billion in mortgage loans in 2025, up 7% year over year, according to parent company Rithm Capital.  \n \n“Millions of our customers are on ChatGPT, and that's only going to increase over time,” he says. “We're going out there into an environment where we have inherently a little bit less control, but we wanted to meet our customers where they were, even though it doesn't give us that same visibility and control that hosting it ourselves does.” \n \nThe AI tool, designed to address common queries about the mortgage process based on Newrez’s guidelines, is also boosting internal efficiencies because customers are more educated when speaking with loan officers, Woodring says.  \n \n“We're seeing that it's actually helping our customers be better informed, which for them obviously makes the process a lot less scary and stressful, but it's a big win for us too because we don't go back and forth as much,” he said.  \n \nTools such as Rezi Mortgage Assistant mark an inflection point for the industry as more prospective homebuyers become comfortable using AI for mortgage advice, he says.  \n \nOver the next year, Woodring says he expects more customers “to have an AI agent working with them to help them figure out what they want and how to get it.” \n \n“You're going to see that creating a more competitive landscape, which I think is good for everyone,” he said. \n \nListen as Woodring discusses Newrez’s approach to customer-facing AI and other AI initiatives.  ","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/aqzNoCHTsy3epsVxWTz2AauwsY7dGC-6lzZc5FA8nHo/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zNjU0/NThkYjQwMTM1OGI5/MzNhMzM4OTM3N2Jl/NGE5NS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}