AJ McGowan, VP of Research and Development at Reynolds & Reynolds.Most dealers have heard the terms generative and agentic AI, but AJ makes the case that a third phase called cognitive AI is already in development, and it is the one that will fundamentally change how dealerships operate. He breaks down why fragmented software platforms are quietly limiting what AI can see and do, uses a service drive scenario to show how a fully connected system could surface a high-value trade opportunity in real time, and explains why Reynolds is investing in its own hardware infrastructure to make that scale. If you are thinking about your software stack or your AI roadmap, this episode reframes both.
Topics:
00:45 The ChatGPT Comment That Aged Horribly.
03:25 Why Auto AI Is Different.
06:45 Real AI Vs. Gimmicks.
08:45 Why Reynolds Is Buying Hardware.
13:15 The Bloomberg Terminal For Used Cars.
16:00 The Hipster Agent Before It Was Cool.
17:30 What Ray Actually Does.
19:45 Workflows Haven't Changed Yet.
21:20 Avery Runs Inventory While You Sleep.
22:50 Where Dealers Still Find An Edge.
25:10 The Veteran AI Can't Replace.
28:35 Why Consolidation Is Now Critical.
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