Hey, fam!

Welcome to the very first edition of AutoIndustry.AI. We’re thrilled to have you here as part of the crew pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in retail automotive with the help of AI.

Each week, we’ll bring you a curated drip of the freshest tools, trends, and strategies that matter most to dealers, innovators, and forward-thinkers like you—all in a quick 5-minute read.

Thanks for joining us!

Let’s get real about AI: it’s not here to steal your job; just make it less cringe. Sure, the buzz around AI can feel like yet another hype wave, but trust me, we're on the edge of something big.

Every major tech shift—from the printing press to the internet—sparked a freakout, then a renaissance. AI’s no different. It’s here to handle the small stuff so you can shine on what really matters.

Dive in and discover five AI hacks to streamline your dealership (Without Losing Your Mind): Gen Z Edition by Zach Hendrix and make your life easier, no cap.

Apple Intelligence Goes Live: A Leap in Privacy-Focused AI for Auto Pros

Apple just launched Apple Intelligence, integrating AI-powered features directly into iPhones, iPads, and Macs. With iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, this on-device AI enhances everything from content creation to photo editing, all while prioritizing user privacy.

Top Features:

• Enhanced Writing Tools: AI-driven tone adjustments, rewriting suggestions, and grammar checks across apps.

• Smarter Siri: A more conversational Siri that manages complex tasks and context seamlessly.

• Photo & Video Search: Natural language search and editing tools make it easy to refine media for promotions.

For auto retailers, Apple Intelligence means intuitive content creation, improved visual media management, and a productivity boost—all with Apple’s privacy safeguards. This update is available in U.S. English now, with more languages coming soon.

Read more about this new tool from Kyle Mountsier here.

Prompt of the Week: Make AI Work for Your Brand

In "AI is Leveling the Playing Field," Paul J Daly highlights that as AI democratizes powerful tools, brand identity will be what sets businesses apart. With AI capable of handling tasks once limited to large teams, how can you ensure your dealership’s messaging feels unique?

This Week’s Challenge: Use AI to reinforce your dealership’s brand. Pick one area—like social media, email marketing, or customer service—and prompt an AI tool to reflect your brand’s personality. If you’re all about community, try a social post that highlights a local event or customer story. For tech-focused brands, prompt AI to showcase your latest features in an innovative way.

Reflection Questions:

• Does the AI-generated content align with your brand’s tone?

• How well does AI capture your dealership’s distinct character?

By directing AI to enhance your brand, you ensure it supports what makes your dealership stand out—just as Paul suggests.

Align your AI writing tool to your brand by using the below prompt:

Pro Tip: Just because you’re talking to a chatbot doesn’t mean you should forget your manners. Always use “please” and “thank you” when prompting (mostly so that robots show mercy on you when the machines revolt).

Management & Operations 

Breaking Down OpenAI’s New ChatGPT Search by Kyle Mountsier– OpenAI’s ChatGPT Search brings real-time search capabilities directly into ChatGPT, transforming it into an interactive research assistant.

Dealerships can use it to streamline operations, quickly accessing the latest data on vehicle specs, inventory, and market trends. By integrating real-time information into daily operations, customer service teams can respond faster, improving the overall customer experience.

Embracing AI: A New Frontier for the Automotive Industry

Veteran dealer, Todd Caputo, shares insights on how AI is set to transform every facet of automotive retail. Drawing on decades of experience, Todd highlights how AI is revolutionizing sales, service, and finance departments, making processes more efficient, customer-centric, and data-driven. From lead handling and personalized recommendations in sales to predictive maintenance in service and enhanced credit modeling in finance, AI is already redefining dealership operations.

Looking ahead, Todd envisions robotics handling routine tasks, enabling staff to focus on building customer relationships. His future updates will dive deeper into actionable ways dealerships can leverage AI to strengthen and future-proof their businesses.

Read the full write-up from Todd here.