When people talk about artificial intelligence and mortgages -- and they do, a sign of AI tackling more real-world problems -- they mostly refer to making the process less of a paper-heavy slog. Born of a unique tech startup builder called Entrepreneur First -- a "talent investor" that pairs up smart strangers and helps them develop whatever company idea they come up with -- Proportunity uses AI based on Intel technologies to find London properties that are poised to appreciate in value. The company then offers a sort of "bridge loan" for first-time buyers who can afford the monthly payments but don't have enough for the down payment that traditional lenders require. "We started with first-time buyers because this is a huge problem here in London," says Stefan Boronea, Proportunity co-founder and CTO. The company estimates that down payment requirements keep some 200,000 more would-be first-time buyers from joining the U.K. market today, compared with 2001.