Blend Unveils Vision for Intelligent Origination: A New Operating Model for Lending

Core Insights - Blend Labs, Inc. has introduced Intelligent Origination, an AI-powered system designed to transform the lending process by embedding intelligence directly into the core of lending operations [2][3][6] - The new model aims to reduce the high costs associated with traditional lending, which average over $11,000 per mortgage and $2,000 per home equity loan, while also addressing lengthy cycle times of 20 to 30 days [4][10] Intelligent Origination Overview - Intelligent Origination represents a shift from traditional AI tools to a system that executes decisions autonomously, enhancing speed, accuracy, and oversight in lending [3][6][8] - The system integrates data, documents, and product rules, allowing for contextual awareness and the ability to handle complex decisions in real time [7][10] Implementation and Impact - The initial focus of Intelligent Origination is on back-office use cases that are labor-intensive, such as data validation and pre-funding quality control, which can significantly reduce processing times and costs [10][11] - Early pilot partners have reported substantial improvements, with tasks that previously took analysts 20 minutes now completed in seconds, leading to potential cost savings and enhanced quality control [11] Future Developments - Starting in 2026, Blend plans to expand Intelligent Origination to include additional use cases such as fraud detection and borrower communication across various lending products [10]