Episode #1417: Today we meet a 14-year-old already building his path toward dealership ownership, examine buyers who are shopping longer and prioritizing price, and look at the leadership risks that emerge when executives trust AI more than their own people.

A new Urban Science and Harris Poll study finds shoppers are researching for up to three months, comparing more brands and dealers, and putting price ahead of loyalty.

• The survey of 3,012 buyers and 252 dealers found shoppers now spend one to three months researching, with 44% doing more homework before contacting a store.

• Buying a vehicle from a traditional dealership still leads with 90% of buyers preferring them. 66% would consider buying through a dealership website and 25% are more open to buying fully online.

• Price is beating loyalty. 31% prioritize value over brand, and 59% would travel farther for a better deal.

• EV enthusiasm remains uneven: 60% of dealers are excited, while only a third of buyers say they are ready to consider an EV. Meanwhile 47% of buyers say they may never be ready to buy an EV
  
  

At 14 years old, Peter McKay is already thinking about owning the whole dealership. The New Jersey teen  has grown his @CarDealershipKid Instagram account to more than 1,400 followers since launching it in February 2024. His videos feature dealership visits, vehicle walkarounds and recommendations for first-time buyers.

• He has already collaborated with 15 dealerships across New Jersey, New York and Connecticut, offering stores free social media exposure while building relationships with owners and employees who have become mentors.

• Peter’s love for cars began with his late father, Brian McKay, who took him to the New York International Auto Show and dealerships before passing away when Peter was 7.

• His next goals include learning fixed operations, landing a dealership internship and eventually studying automotive marketing and management at Northwood University.

• Peter said, “My end goal is to own my own dealership or, God willing, dealerships. You get that opportunity to make a big impact in your community.”
  
  

AI’s biggest leadership risk may not be replacement, but overconfidence. As executives increasingly trust fluent, supportive chatbot answers, leaders risk weakening their own judgment, overlooking errors and silencing the people around them.

• One survey found 74% of executives trust AI advice more than colleagues or friends, while 44% would favor its reasoning over their own.

• Warning signs include sending lightly reviewed AI-written work, producing polished but shallow “workslop,” and mandating AI before establishing clear governance.

• The most damaging habit may be using AI to overrule employees. When objections are repeatedly settled by a chatbot, teams eventually stop speaking up.

• The article’s central warning: AI should support executive judgment, not replace scrutiny, accountability or healthy disagreement.