# Shriram Properties cautious on commercial space, cites AI risk 2026-10-01T20:16:57+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Real estate developer Shriram Properties is cautious about commercial real estate projects due to concerns that AI could disrupt multiple sectors, according to Murali M, CMD. He said the company does not want to be 'very aggressive' in the commercial space, citing uncertainty over AI's impact and the risk of rentals falling. The Times of India reports that the company is exploring build-to-suit facilities to avoid vacant properties. The Hindu Business Line adds that the company also faces an 8 to 10% increase in raw material costs following the Iran and West Asia crisis, particularly in oil-linked products like lifts and tiles. Murali Malayappan said the company is absorbing most of the cost escalation as affordability limits passing it on to buyers, but expects housing demand to remain strong. Shriram Properties is targeting a sharp expansion in residential sales, aiming to double pre-sales from Rs 2,300 crore in 2025 to Rs 4,500 to 5,000 crore over the next two years. Chennai remains a key market, with plans to invest Rs 368 crore for 3.3 million sq ft of development potential. ## Indian Opinion Analysis The Times of India leads with Shriram Properties' caution on commercial real estate, framing AI and work-from-home trends as the key risk, while The Hindu Business Line leads with cost escalation from the Iran-West Asia crisis, quoting an 8 to 10% increase. Both sources agree on the company's residential growth targets, but each foregrounds a different headwind. The Times of India does not mention the raw material cost pressure, and The Hindu Business Line gives only a passing line to the AI caution. A combined reading shows the developer navigating two distinct challenges: external supply-cost shocks and structural demand uncertainty in office space. The company's next step is to invest Rs 1,750 crore nationally over FY27 and FY28. ## Coverage Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) Leads with AI caution, no cost escalation mentioned - thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) Leads with cost escalation, AI caution as secondary This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Tags: AI, Chennai, Murali M, Shriram Properties Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/shriram-properties-cautious-on-commercial-space-cites-ai-risk/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/shriram-properties-cautious-on-commercial-space-cites-ai-risk/#story-in-brief How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/