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Todd Smith
Media & Podcasts

Industry Conversations on AI & Data

Todd Smith brings 30+ years of automotive experience to leading industry podcasts, discussing AI strategy, data ownership, and the future of dealership operations.

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QoreConversations

QoreConversations is a monthly podcast hosted by Todd Smith, featuring in-depth discussions on AI strategy, data governance, and digital transformation in automotive retail. Each episode brings together industry leaders, technology experts, and dealership operators to explore what works, what fails, and what comes next for dealerships navigating the AI revolution.

Episode 17
May 8, 2026

Just Start: The AI Mindset Dealers Need Right Now

Todd Smith argues the dealers who win the next year are the ones who stop debating AI in meetings and start using it. This episode reframes AI as a daily operating habit, not a vendor purchase, and shows where to point it first inside the store.

Todd Smith

Todd Smith

30+ Years Automotive • 5x Inc. 500/5000 • Author

Key Takeaways

01

"Just start" beats waiting for a perfect strategy. Dealers running experiments today are compounding learning the rest of the market does not have.

02

Outsourcing AI literacy to consultants is a trap. Operators have to build their own working knowledge of the tools.

03

Operational efficiency, not customer-facing chatbots, is where AI pays back fastest right now.

All Episodes (17)

Guest Appearances

Featured On Industry-Leading Shows

Todd shares insights on AI transformation, data strategy, and the future of automotive retail with top industry podcasts and media outlets.

01
CBT News
Inside Automotive

Todd Smith's Roadmap to the Intelligent Dealership

Todd Smith joins CBT News' Inside Automotive to lay out his roadmap for the Intelligent Dealership. He explains why AI is not traditional software, introduces the concept of the 'dealership brain' as a centralized repository of institutional knowledge and workflows, and argues that dealers must turn AI inward before pointing it at customers. The conversation covers data-as-inventory, why vendor-owned intelligence is a strategic risk, and practical AI applications across sales, service, used vehicles, and HR.

"This is very compounding technology. It's not linear. You're not making a once-a-year update to your SaaS tool."
Watch on YouTube
02
CBT News

Dealers Who Ignore AI Will Lose: Here's Why

Todd Smith explains why AI adoption is no longer optional for car dealerships. In this interview with CBT News, he breaks down the competitive advantages of early AI adopters and the risks facing dealers who delay implementation. Key topics include data strategy fundamentals, vendor evaluation criteria, and practical first steps for dealership AI transformation.

"The dealerships that thrive in 2025 and beyond will be those that treat their data as a strategic asset, not just a byproduct of transactions."
Watch on YouTube
03
Connected Podcast
Reynolds and Reynolds

The Importance of Quality AI

What separates effective AI solutions from overhyped technology? Todd Smith joins the Reynolds and Reynolds Connected Podcast to discuss quality indicators for automotive AI, how dealers can evaluate AI vendors, and why data infrastructure must precede AI deployment. This episode provides a framework for distinguishing genuine AI capabilities from marketing claims.

"Most AI failures in dealerships are not technology problems. They are data problems disguised as technology problems."
Watch on YouTube
04
You're In Charge
with Glenn Pasch

What Comes First: Data or AI?

Glenn Pasch and Todd Smith tackle the foundational question every dealership must answer before investing in AI: what comes first, data or AI? This conversation covers data governance, the true cost of fragmented systems, and a practical roadmap for building the data infrastructure that makes AI actually work. Essential listening for dealer principals planning technology investments.

"You cannot have an AI strategy without a data strategy. AI is the application layer. Data is the foundation."
Watch on YouTube
05
Up to Speed
Baker Tilly

Up to Speed: Artificial Intelligence in Dealerships

Todd Smith joins Baker Tilly's Up to Speed series to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming dealership operations. This episode covers practical AI applications across sales, service, and back-office functions, along with guidance on evaluating AI investments and building the organizational readiness required for successful implementation.

"AI success in dealerships starts with understanding your data landscape and building the right foundation before deploying technology."
Watch on YouTube

Invite Todd to Your Podcast

Looking for an engaging guest who can speak authoritatively about AI, data strategy, and digital transformation in automotive retail?

AI Strategy & ImplementationData GovernanceDigital TransformationCustomer Experience

Or email directly: speaking@qoreai.com

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The AI Dealership Briefing

Actionable AI strategy for automotive retail executives.

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