Say Goodbye to Canned Responses: Thomas Mancuso on AI Agents, "Jerry," and Personalized Chat | NADA 2026

About this episode

Thomas Mancuso discusses the evolution of AI agents in dealership technology at NADA 2026.

Host Shasta Haddock kicks off Day 2 at NADA 2026 with a high-energy session featuring Michelle Phelps and Thomas Mancuso from Podium. In this episode, Thomas (not Scott!) breaks down the massive shift in dealership technology—moving away from generic, "canned" AI responses to intelligent AI agents that actually understand context. He introduces "Jerry," Podium’s AI agent that lives and interacts in real-time, providing the personalized experience today's car buyers expect. If you’re tired of chat tools that frustrate customers rather than helping them, this conversation on the future of AI-driven communication is a must-watch. #ImACarChick #NADA2026 #ThomasMancuso #Podium #AIAgents #DealershipTech #CustomerExperience #AutoIndustry

People in this episode

Host: Shasta Haddock

Guest: Thomas Mancuso

Topics covered

• AI technology
• dealership communication
• customer experience
• personalized chat
• automotive industry

Keywords

• AI agents
• canned responses
• customer experience
• dealership technology
• Podium
• NADA 2026
• Jerry

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Podium

Products: Jerry

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