By Jodi Blomberg, vice president of AI and Machine Learning, Cox Automotive
Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. It’s in our phones, our cars, our workflows and (increasingly) our strategic plans. But here’s the truth: AI for the sake of AI is not practical. It’s not magical. And it won’t solve your problems unless it’s designed with the human experience in mind.
At Cox Automotive, we’ve seen firsthand how AI can be both a catalyst for transformation and a source of friction. The difference lies in how – and why – you deploy it.
Digital auditing creates trust through technology
Imagine you’re a dealer who needs to complete a NextGear Capital audit, but auditors show up at unexpected and unknown times. Now, by using AI, NextGear Capital makes the process easier and more flexible by enabling you to complete self-audits at your convenience within an assigned timeframe through the mobile app. AI makes the process easier and more flexible for customers and auditors.
Efficiency in the fast lane for fleet technicians
Imagine you’re a fleet technician onsite with a client and you can’t start the repair until you prepare an estimate. If an AI assistant can prompt you with a few questions to build the estimate more quickly, your priorities align with the intent of the AI tool. Bringing more productivity to the estimation process lets you go back to the job that AI cannot do: fixing a truck – ultimately a huge win for the fleet owner who gets a truck back on the road faster.
In short: AI is at its best when it augments human experience
At Cox Automotive, our teams understand that knowledge and consideration of how the AI solution will impact the real-world environment is critical. The most successful AI deployments are those that augment human capabilities, and that is key to our strategy at Cox Automotive as we build AI and machine learning solutions.
The agentic future: AI gets even more effective when it moves beyond simple automation and becomes a true digital partner in the workplace. We’re already seeing how AI Agents and connected agentic workflows can augment human experience by freeing people from repetitive tasks or speeding up processes. For example, when a dealer needs to manage inventory, schedule service, and respond to customer inquiries, agentic workflows ensure that each step is coordinated, reducing friction and unlocking new levels of efficiency.
The UX factor: Similarly, we’ve learned that how AI is presented – chat, dropdown, voice – can be just as important as what it does. Our UX research helps us understand user preferences and tailors AI interfaces accordingly. Because if users don’t engage, it won’t matter how smart the model is.
So, what does this all mean for dealers, lenders, OEMs, or fleet operators?
Lean in on AI in a way that makes sense for your business. Find a pain point in your workflow or an efficiency opportunity for a specific area of your business and start there. Lean in on trusted partners like Cox Automotive to support human-centered strategies for AI adoption.
AI is not a silver bullet. It’s a tool – a powerful one – that must be wielded with intention. At Cox Automotive, we believe AI should be designed to elevate people and drive our business and clients forward. When you start with the human experience, the technology follows. And that’s when transformation truly begins.
Jodi Blomberg
Vice President, AI and Machine Learning at Cox Automotive
With decades of experience in data science and machine learning, Jodi Blomberg has a track record of creating products that embed data and AI/ML to increase automation, revenue, and growth. Blomberg oversees a team of product managers, engineers, and data scientists working to shape the future of automotive technology. Her teams manage initiatives spanning early-stage research, proofs of concept, and full product delivery applying AI models: machine learning, GenAI, Agentic AI, computer vision, statistics, and optimization.
