SEATTLE — By Kevin Spacebar, AI Bee Reel Staff

February 22, 2026

AUSTIN, Texas — Local real estate agent Marcus Thorne proudly gestured toward a spacious living room featuring a floating, legless torso hovering near the bay window. "It really opens up the space," Thorne told a young couple, completely ignoring the glitchy entity staring blankly at the fireplace as if it were a normal part of the staging.

"This ‘demon’ serves as a reminder of the critical errors AI can make, sure, but it also serves as a great conversation starter," said Sheila Vance, VP of Digital Staging at OpenDoorbell. "We call it ‘Ethereal Occupancy.’ It makes the home feel lived-in without the mess of actual legs or lower bodies. Plus, it highlights the high ceilings perfectly."

"Most buyers actually prefer the ghostly apparitions over traditional furniture staging because it feels more modern," explained Director of Sales Brad Ghoul. "It keeps the focus on the square footage rather than the rug choices." The visiting couple nodded politely, too afraid to ask why the torso was wearing a 1980s windbreaker, while silently calculating if their mortgage pre-approval covered professional exorcisms.

At press time, the agency updated the listing to include a floating hand in the kitchen that slaps anyone trying to open the refrigerator.

Inspired by the real story: AI staging tools are accidentally inserting creepy, distorted human figures into real estate photos. Read the full story.