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When your side hustle is building AI that builds companies, you're officially in "mad scientist" territory—in the best way.

Nick Askew of Space Auto returns to Auto Collabs and proves once again why he's the dealer tech world's resident mad scientist. In this episode, Nick talks about building an experimental AI-powered company that literally builds other companies—from code to communication to sales and support. Yep, it's as wild as it sounds, and yes, it’s already live. Oh, and the AI project manager is named after his dog.

But this episode isn’t just AI wizardry for fun—Nick breaks down why understanding the foundations of software architecture and data integration is now essential for anyone hoping to stay competitive in the automotive retail space. From agentic systems to CDPs, and what happens when you give your AI vision, Nick reminds us that dealers don’t have to wait for vendors to catch up. You’ve already got the data—you just need to learn how to use it.

Takeaways

0:00 This Interview Will Change How You Think About Work

2:41 He Built an AI That Builds Companies—Here’s What Happened

6:00 The Most Dangerous Shift in Tech Isn’t What You Think

8:58 White Collar Jobs Are Disappearing Faster Than Anyone Admits

10:06 Why Most Developers Won’t Have Jobs in 5 Years

12:58 The One Skill That Will Protect You From AI Disruption

14:45 You’re Not Just a Manager—You’re Now a Tech Leader

16:23 The Real Reason AI Won’t Make You Smarter

18:57 Why DIY Apps Fail (Even With AI on Your Side)

20:36 We’re Not Ready for How Fast This Is Moving

21:04 This Is What Being Your Own CDP Actually Looks Like

28:03 You Don’t Need a Vendor—You Just Need Your Own Data

Connect with Nick Askew at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-askew/

Learn more about Space Auto at https://space.auto/

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John Sacco reveals how recycled metals are the unsung heroes fueling everything from hospitals to highways, and yes—even your car.

John Sacco, owner of Sierra Machinery International, joins Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo to unpack the surprisingly central role of recycled metals in modern life. With his signature food-and-wine finesse, John dives into the art of recycling—from molten aluminum forklifts on Toyota’s factory floors to copper’s critical role in electrification—while keeping it casually riveting.

They take us behind the scenes of Repurposed Season 3, where John partners with Toyota to spotlight green manufacturing at its finest. His passion—to change the face of an industry often dismissed as “garbage”—shines when he reminds us: you can’t build a single American-made vehicle today without recycled aluminum. Expect insights on Kaizen manufacturing, international standardization, EV battery waste, and why nobody’s asking the right questions—until now.

0:00 – Why recycled metals matter more than you think

0:45 – How fine dining and recycling connect

2:18 – How to land a Toyota docuseries deal

4:05 – How Toyota makes aluminum manufacturing green

7:30 – Why Toyota standardizes cylinder heads worldwide

14:21 – Why recycled metals may be greener than EVs

16:15 – Why EVs aren’t as recyclable as you think

17:45 – How Toyota stays green without going full EV

19:34 – Why rare earths are a big problem for EVs

20:25 – How EV batteries are creating a recycling bottleneck

22:00 – Why copper demand is exploding with EV growth

23:30 – How electrification affects everything—from lawnmowers to golf courses

Connect with John Sacco at https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sacco-8a8a1b10/

Learn more about Re:purposed at https://therepurposedseries.com/

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

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https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

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1. Automotive State of the Union
2. ASOTU CON Sessions

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This episode of Auto Collabs gets seriously smart as Paul, Kyle, and Michael welcome Sanjay Varnwal, founder of Spyne. With a background that includes time at Amazon and deep roots in AI-driven product development, Sanjay shares his journey from general e-commerce merchandising to building ultra-specialized solutions for the auto industry. His company’s obsession with perfection—like making sure side mirrors don’t vanish in digital photos—isn’t just nerdy, it’s the kind of tech precision that can radically improve dealer efficiency and customer experience.

Sanjay also breaks down the evolution of agentic AI—technology that doesn't just talk, but acts on behalf of dealers to optimize pricing, image performance, and even ad budgets. It’s the next level of automation, where your digital teammate gets smarter (and more autonomous) over time. Whether you're deep in the tech weeds or just trying to understand how AI can lighten the load in your dealership, this convo offers sharp insights and a clear look at what’s next.

Takeaways:

0:00 – 🎙️ Intro banter: Meta Ray-Bans, Weezer dreams & Wiggles hype

1:48 – 💡 Introducing Sanjay Varnwal from Spyne

2:28 – 🤖 Sanjay’s first AI experience at Amazon Go

3:39 – 🧠 How AI’s been around long before 2022

5:02 – 🎥 The evolution of AI in media and merchandising

7:40 – 🔄 How AI is changing human behavior and productivity

9:45 – 🚗 Why Spyne focused on auto merchandising

11:30 – 🛠️ From general e-commerce to auto-specific solutions

13:05 – 📸 Solving hard problems: lighting, stabilization & studio-quality images

15:46 – 🪞 The vanishing mirror problem and how Spyne fixed it

17:40 – 🧑‍💻 Building an AI-powered teammate for dealers

19:04 – 🧭 What is agentic AI and why it matters

20:25 – 📊 Real-time merchandising optimization and ad performance

21:01 – ⚙️ Letting AI handle repeatable, data-driven tasks

21:40 – 🙌 Final thoughts and future of AI in automotive

Connect with Sanjay Varnwal at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaykv/

Learn more about Spyne at https://www.spyne.ai

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

We have a daily email!

https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts:

1. Automotive State of the Union
2. ASOTU CON Sessions