DAYTON, Ohio – September 16, 2026 – Reynolds and Reynolds today announced it is sharing cutting-edge insight into the next generation of AI, and how to get the most out of it, at the 22nd Annual CXAUTO2026 Leadership Summit, taking place September 28, 2026, at Hudson’s Detroit. A partner event of the Automotive News Congress, CXAUTO2026 opens a broader week of industry events. It brings together leaders across automotive retail, OEM, finance, and technology to explore strategies that improve the customer journey and advance retail innovation.
“The industry has spent the past several years proving that AI can make existing work faster. The more consequential question for dealers and manufacturers is whether AI is making their decisions better,” said Chris Walsh, president and acting CEO of Reynolds and Reynolds. “That shift, from automating yesterday’s processes to informing tomorrow’s judgment, is the conversation we want to put in front of leaders at CXAUTO2026.”
Reynolds will be represented at the summit by Chris Walsh, alongside Todd Smith, CEO of QoreAI, and Carlito Mojica, senior manager of retail development at LaFontaine Automotive Group.
The session titled “The Next Generation of AI – Moving Beyond Automation to Smarter Business Decisions” examines how unified AI data platforms are enabling dealerships and manufacturers to shift from reactive reporting and confined workflows to proactive decision-making. The discussion will address why disconnected data has historically limited the application of AI, how a unified data layer changes what is possible, and how leading organizations are applying AI to solve real business problems rather than simply automate existing workflows.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the automotive industry, but many organizations are still using it to automate yesterday’s processes instead of reimagining tomorrow’s opportunities. While early AI applications focused on creating reports, generating content, or improving individual tasks, the next generation of AI is fundamentally changing how dealerships and OEMs make decisions, solve complex business challenges, and create better customer experiences.
The real power of AI is no longer about doing the same work faster. It is about asking better questions, uncovering deeper insights, and identifying opportunities previously hidden in disconnected systems and fragmented data. As organizations build unified data environments, AI can move beyond providing information to deliver meaningful recommendations that improve business outcomes.
Attendees of the session will:
- Understand the evolution of AI from task automation to strategic business decision-making.
- Learn why a unified data strategy is essential for unlocking AI’s full potential.
- Discover how AI can identify opportunities and recommend actions instead of simply automating existing workflows.
- Explore practical examples of AI solving real dealership and OEM business challenges.
- Gain insights into how AI can improve customer experience, operational performance, and profitability.
- Develop a roadmap for preparing their organization for the next generation of AI-powered decision-making.
The broader CXAUTO2026 program covers AI-powered customer experiences, digital merchandising, interactive video, analytics, and fixed operations. Tickets and event details are available through tlsummits.org.
“Disconnected data and segmented agents have quietly set the ceiling on what AI could accomplish in this industry,” concluded Walsh. “When the data is unified, AI can finally start pointing you to the opportunity. The dealers and manufacturers who prepare a foundation for that now will be the ones setting the pace for the customer experience in the years ahead.”
