Generic AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot are increasingly used in UK dealer groups, but retailers are warned against treating them as plug-and-play solutions, writes Tom Seymour. Dealerships use large language models for tasks from drafting emails to lead nurturing, yet face questions on security, governance, data ownership and suitability for automotive retail. OpenAI and Anthropic iterate models rapidly, with major updates arriving roughly every three-to-four months, compared with previous six-to-nine-month cycles. OpenAI’s $852 billion (£635bn) valuation has climbed as adoption grows. According to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s AI Adoption Research from February 2026, 85% of AI-using businesses deploy natural language processing and text generation, while only 7% use agentic AI systems. Half of businesses using AI deploy more than one AI technology. James Leese, UK managing director at automotive AI specialist Impel, says dealerships face “three completely different AI conversations happening simultaneously” and warns many blur them together.