As a leading expert in computational social science, he offered a compelling vision of how AI is revolutionising the way businesses interact with customers, manage operations and anticipate industry trends.

Understanding computational social science and AI’s Role:

Jay began by explaining the essence of computational social science—how it seeks to understand human behaviour through data rather than intuition. Traditional business interactions have long relied on personal intuition and experience, but computational social science focuses on analysing the digital footprints individuals leave behind. Every transaction, interaction and behaviour form a data trail that AI can process, providing businesses with actionable insights without relying on subjective judgement.

Learning from the "Magnificent Seven":

He highlighted how the world’s most successful companies – Microsoft, Google (Alphabet), Meta, Nvidia, Tesla, Apple and Amazon – have built their trillion-dollar empires on AI. Their success stems from leveraging AI to make strategic decisions, optimise operations and enhance customer experiences. The automotive industry is now poised for a similar AI revolution, where data-driven intelligence will dictate the future of dealerships, vehicle sales and customer engagement.

AI’s evolution and integration into everyday life:

AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it is embedded in our daily lives. One of the most significant shifts has been AI’s ability to understand and predict consumer behaviour. Jay used Spotify as an example, demonstrating how AI curates personalised playlists by analysing user behaviour. Similarly, in the automotive sector, AI can anticipate customer preferences, recommend vehicles and streamline the buying process.

Revolutionising dealerships with AI:

For automobile dealerships, AI is reshaping operations in three critical areas:

• · Personalised Customer Interactions
• · Automating Sales and Service Processes

AI-powered systems can analyse vast amounts of customer data to provide personalised recommendations. For instance, customers searching for a family SUV with advanced safety features can receive curated options based on their previous interactions, budget and lifestyle needs.

AI-driven automation is making dealership operations more efficient. Traditional sales models often require multiple touchpoints and extensive human intervention. However, AI can streamline these processes by:

• Identifying potential buyers based on online browsing behaviour.

• Scheduling service appointments automatically.

• Predicting vehicle maintenance needs before issues.

• Enhancing lead management through AI-powered CRM systems.

Enhanced Decision-Making Through Data-Driven Insights:

AI does not just improve customer interactions; it also empowers dealerships with valuable business intelligence. By analysing purchasing trends, regional demand and financial data, AI helps dealerships optimise inventory management, pricing strategies and marketing campaigns. This data-driven approach reduces guesswork and increases profitability.

AI agents and radical Automation:

Jay emphasised that the future of AI is shifting towards intelligent agents – systems capable of performing complex tasks autonomously. These AI agents will handle everything from negotiating car prices to assisting customers with financing options, dramatically reducing the need for human intervention.

Despite its immense potential, AI also raises ethical and regulatory concerns. Data privacy, job displacement and algorithmic biases remain significant challenges that businesses must address. He stressed the importance of responsible AI deployment, ensuring that automation enhances human capabilities rather than replacing them entirely.

Jay’s address painted an exciting picture of an AI-powered automotive industry, where dealerships become smarter, customer experiences become hyper-personalised, and decision-making becomes more precise.

For automotive dealerships, the message is clear: AI is not a distant future—it is happening now.