The Lego Batman Movie is a masterclass in plain-language AI commands, Troy Palmquist writes. Real estate pros who get this will run circles around everyone else
I reconnected with the Lego Batman movie on a recent flight. Even though it’s now nearly a decade old, I still think it’s one of the best movies ever. That’s not because we’re a Lego family, and it’s not even because Batman is my (and my son, Rhett’s) favorite superhero.
Rewatching the movie as an adult with fresh eyes, it hits differently now. That’s because with artificial intelligence being infused into every area of our lives, the move has become a blueprint for interacting with technology.
For those who haven’t seen it, Batman in this movie has a voice-controlled AI he talks to like a trusted helper — casually, constantly and with complete confidence. Here’s how to bring that same confidence to your next interaction with AI.
‘Computer, overcompensate’: The original vibe prompt
In the opening sequence, Batman, in the middle of a dogfight, tells his computer to “overcompensate.” In response, it fires an overwhelming, ridiculously perfect blast of weaponry.
Notice that Batman doesn’t tell the computer how to overcompensate. He doesn’t explain the situation or provide context. He trusts the system to interpret and execute on command.
This is literally the definition of vibe coding: Describe the outcome you want in natural language, and let the AI figure out the how, guided by your corrections and tweaks on the back end.
Stop overexplaining to AI tools and micromanaging your prompts. Trust them to act when you provide a description of the output you’re looking for.
‘Computer, where is the bomb?’: Querying without knowing the answer
Batman asks his AI direct, results-oriented questions without knowing whether or not the data exists. It’s up to the computer to figure out the answer.
The barrier in working with AI isn’t always the tool itself. Sometimes, it’s the user’s confidence. Ask your AI tools bold, outcome-first questions like the following:
- Who in my database is most likely to transact in the next 90 days?
- What’s the weakest part of my listing presentation?
Stop underestimating what your AI can do. That imposes artificial limitations on the tech. Instead, start with the big questions and work your way backward from there.
‘When has The Joker ever taken over Gotham?’ AI as institutional memory
Mid-battle, Batman asks his AI to pull historical data in real time on his arch-nemesis, The Joker. “When has The Joker ever taken over Gotham?” he asks. “Never,” replies the AI.
This is AI as a second brain. Not just a search engine, but an analyst who knows your history, the history of your market and the history of your business and can surface insights instantly.
Your CRM coupled with AI should be doing this on your behalf.
- Who have you lost deals to?
- What’s your average days-to-close by price range?
- What patterns exist in your pipeline you’ve never noticed?
We often wonder about these things in passing, but we don’t stop to do the research. Now, you don’t have to. Have AI do it for you.
The password is ‘Iron Man sucks’: Security, personality and making it your own
The Batcomputer’s password is a personal, irreverent, deeply Batman choice. It’s a small detail that reflects Batman himself: his voice and his personality.
The best AI setups reflect your voice, your clients, your market and your personality as well. Real estate agents who get the most out of AI tools are the ones who customize them. Build recurring projects and workflows. Train for tone. Set up your AI to sound like you, not a robot.
Ask your AI for help with customization and let it lead you through a series of questions and answers to lock in that personalization across every interaction.
Batman vs. Tony Stark: 2 faces of AI adoption
As much as I love Batman, Iron Man’s alter ego, Tony Stark, actually represents an even more sophisticated level of AI adoption. While Lego Batman’s AI is reactive and conversational, Stark’s Jarvis is proactive, integrated and anticipatory. It alerts him of problems before he asks.
Most agents are still working to achieve Batman mode, which is a worthwhile goal. However, the agents who will dominate the next five years should be building toward Jarvis: agentic AI that monitors their pipeline, flags opportunities and drafts follow-ups before they’re asked.
The gap between these two visions of AI integration isn’t talent or tech savvy. It’s the willingness to trust the system and invest in its potential.
Stop being timid with AI. Stop describing the task at hand, and start describing the output.
- Instead of: “Write a listing description for a 3-bed 2-bath in Thousand Oaks.” Do this: “Write me the most compelling version of this listing description, one that gets this home SOLD. Don’t hold back. Make someone feel like they’re already home.”
- Instead of: “Can you help me write a follow-up email to a lead?” Do this: “Here’s everything I know about this lead. Give me the single best reason to call them today and exactly what to say in the first 10 seconds.”
- Instead of: “Summarize this market report for me.” Do this: “Here’s my local market data for the past 90 days. What’s the pattern most agents would walk right past — and how do I use it in a conversation with a seller this week?”
Tell your AI tool what you need in your own words and consider how the result resonates with you.
Right now, every agent, team leader and broker needs to answer these questions:
- Are you Batman? Batman knows what he needs. He’s a confident, plain-language user of AI. He prompts well and acts on the output.
- Are you Alfred? Alfred is the power behind the tech stack. Because he’s dealing with bigger issues involving client data, compliance, lead routing and transactions, he needs more than a good prompt. He needs a tech plan.
- Should you just buy the Batmobile? Some problems are already being solved by AI-integrated tech platforms like Breezy, Shilo and RealScout. Familiarize yourself with the tools that already exist so you’re not reinventing the wheel.
At the end of the movie, Batman wins, not because of the computer, but because he finally lets people in. Commissioner Barbara Gordon says, “It takes a village, not a Batman” to create change in Gotham City. The village she’s talking about isn’t made up of AI agents. It’s made up of people.
The computer is the tool; the relationships are the strategy. Your sphere, your team, your network: That’s still how you win.
Use the tools. Connect with your village. Trust the system. But know when to call Alfred — and when to just buy the Batmobile.
