What Is AI Training?
Your AI already knows how to talk to customers and sell cars. What it does not know is your store. The instructions you give it work like an onboarding packet for a new hire.
The AI reads those instructions before every message it sends. A few clear lines go further than a long manual. What it learns is up to you.
Writing Instructions the AI Can Follow
Use these rules every time you write or update instructions for your AI:
Write it like you would say it. Use plain words and full sentences, the same way you would brief a new salesperson on day one. No shorthand, no internal codes.
Be specific. "Free car washes for life" beats "great service." The AI can only repeat details you give it.
Say what to do, not only what not to do. "Invite them in for a free appraisal" works better than "Do not talk about trades." Save "always" and "never" for real rules.
Give each rule its own line. Rules buried in a long paragraph get missed.
Do not contradict yourself. If one line says "push for the appointment" and another says "never ask for an appointment," the AI has to guess. Read everything together before you save.
Keeping Your Instructions Safe and Accurate
The AI repeats what you tell it, so check every instruction against these rules:
Only promise what is true today. Skip "everyone gets approved," "lowest price in the state," or any claim you cannot back up.
Keep it fair. Never tell the AI to treat customers differently based on age, race, gender, religion, national origin, disability, or anything similar. Treat every customer the way your best salesperson would.
Keep private things private. Never put passwords, internal costs, margins, or employees' personal phone numbers into AI instructions. Assume anything you type could end up in a message to a customer.
Keeping Your Instructions Short and Current
More words do not make a smarter AI. Follow these habits:
Less is more. Do not paste your whole website or policy manual. Put the most important things first and cut anything a customer would never ask about.
Keep it current. Expired promotions, old hours, and former employees' names lead to wrong answers. Put a monthly reminder on your calendar to review your instructions.
Check the results. After you make a change, read a few of the AI's conversations. If it is not saying what you expected, adjust one thing at a time.
Seeing the Difference in an Example
Instead of this:
"Be nice. Sell more. NEVER be rude!!! We are the best dealer around and everyone gets approved."
This is vague, uses all caps, and makes a promise you cannot keep.
Try this:
"Be friendly and brief, like a helpful neighbor. Your goal is to set an appointment. If someone asks about credit, let them know our finance team works with all credit situations and will go over options in person."
This gives the AI a clear tone, a clear goal, and a safe answer to a common question.
Good to Know
Ready to set up your DriveCentric Agents? See Coaching Your DriveCentric Agents for a setting-by-setting guide with examples.
Need Assistance?
For assistance, reach out to your Customer Success Team using the Support Icon in the bottom-right corner of DriveCentric!