The Week In News, But Shorter
June 22 – 28, 2026

A Weekly PropTech Newsletter bringing you industry updates from across the real estate spectrum

We may have only just passed the official first day of summer here in the US, and the 4th of July is still just around the corner, but believe it or not, Back to School deals are already underway. And while this might seem like a typical holiday-creep situation, it’s actually representative of the broader economy and psychology. Consumers are on the hunt for ever better bargains especially with ongoing rising inflation and supply chain issues, and since the pandemic shopping seasons have shifted earlier as consumers fear stock-outs. For property owners this means being prepared for crowds and increased foot traffic are less predictable timeframes and knowing that top-tier support for your retailers is needed year-round more than ever with no “slow seasons” in sight. Are you experiencing this at your property? Let us know over on our LinkedIn page.

This week we heard more about international travelers experiencing one-in-a-lifetime trips to the world famous American Malls, about a new type of retail site where nothing is ever actually bought or sold (but dopamine remains high), and students aren’t the only ones with learning opportunities in student housing.

Digital Meets Physical

Consumers Want AI to Shop With Them, Not for Them [PYMNTS] Artificial intelligence has already transformed how consumers discover products, compare prices, and navigate digital commerce. But as companies race to build autonomous AI capable of making decisions independently, consumers are indicating they want assistance, not surrender.

How Fashion Retail Is Talking the AI Talk [WWD] AI has slipped easily into the role that the internet played at the turn of the century. It’s clearly useful, absolutely revolutionary and just about everywhere all at once — whether it’s consumers logging into ChatGPT to shop or retailers trying to make sure they’re on the other end of that query.

UPS Rolls Out New AI Tools for Tracking, Returns and Customer Service [SupplyChain247] UPS is rolling out a series of new AI-powered tools to improve package visibility, customer service, returns processing, and international shipping as the company continues to modernize its global logistics operations.

What Are ‘Dopamine Sites’? Why Online Shoppers Are Flocking to Them [Yahoo!Life] Known as “dopamine sites,” these viral platforms mimic the entire online shopping experience—from browsing products and reading reviews to filling a cart and tracking a delivery—but nothing is ever purchased, and nothing ever arrives.

Pinterest launches an experimental AI shopping app called ‘Ask Pinterest’ [TechCrunch] Pinterest announced a new experimental app called “Ask Pinterest” that will allow the company to explore a more conversational approach to shopping and product discovery that could eventually find its way to the main Pinterest app.

How brands, retailers are using AI — and what they won’t let it touch [ModernRetail] As retailers and brands continue to build out both customer-facing and internal functionalities using AI, the conversation has also shifted toward what executives don’t want it being used for.

PropTalk

Why Back-to-School Deals Are Already Here [The Wall Street Journal] Back-to-school shopping season is already here, at least at some retailers. Some schools in the U.S. still have a few days left before summer vacation, but that isn’t stopping Walmart from touting deals on back-to-school dorm furniture and electronics. Target is discounting backpacks. And Amazon.com is highlighting curated lists of back-to-school Prime Day deals.

Sephora introduces store quiet hours [RetailDive] Sephora is rolling out store quiet hours globally to promote a “more peaceful and calmer shopping environment,” the company said. The beauty retailer’s stores will turn down music and adjust screens at specified times.

Enclosed Tennessee center CoolSprings Galleria to add 360 residential units [Chain Store Age] One of CBL Properties’ super-regional shopping centers is slated to add more retail and residential space. The firm has closed on the sale of a 5.35-acre parcel of land in the northeast corner of CoolSprings Galleria in Franklin, Tenn., an affluent Nashville suburb, to Greystar, a developer, owner and operator of rental housing.

Pop-ups-only center debuts on the street in Chicago [Chain Store Age] A company called LiveLaunch has placed 11 modular storefronts that allow digitally native brands to meet customers in person and have them make purchases online — thereby establishing a physical presence minus build-out costs and long-term leases.

When in Jersey for the World Cup, Do as the Locals Do. (Go to a Mall.) [The New York Times] Erected in 2021, American Dream is the second-largest shopping mall in the country. It has hundreds of stores, several dozen eateries and a host of attractions not commonly found indoors. This month, the air-conditioned cathedral to commerce represents the only public gathering space accessible to the 82,500-capacity stadium by foot.

Student Housing Is Becoming the Test Lab for Multifamily Tech [Propmodo] Student housing has transformed dramatically over the past decade. Operators are raising the bar on what it means to live near campus. But the sophistication goes beyond physical amenities. Student housing is becoming the testing ground for technology that will eventually reshape how all multifamily properties operate.