Ep 84 – Keith Perkins and Seth Thorson | Will AI Replace Technicians?
Published: Apr 7, 2026
Register for Tekmetric’s Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE
Turnkey Marketing takes the stress of doing something I’m not good at off my plate. And gives it to someone who is. Click HERE for more.
Elite Worldwide has CHANGED my business and life through their one-on-one coaching. Use them like I do HERE
AI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HERE
Seth Thorson and Keith Perkins own shops and are both on the NASTF board. Today, they talk about AI and how shop owners can leverage Chat GPTs and Chrome extensions to streamline operations and keep their customer data protected. Keith weighs in on the future of technician roles, pointing out that while robotics and AI may eventually change the landscape, hands-on skills and adaptability will be critical for years to come.
Timestamps:
00:00 Techs replaced by AI?
06:25 AI and data ownership
09:41 Learning the GTP foundation
10:18 Teaching effective coding practices
13:15 Teaching basic and premium features
17:19 Using AI to access online data
20:20 Circuit City vs. Best Buy insights
25:37 Son considering trade school program
31:28 Starting with the basics
35:48 Putting in extra effort
37:22 Learning through hard work
42:59 Michael Brody-Waite’s leadership approach
43:38 Seth’s class for shop owners
49:18 Concerns about AI and human thinking
51:12 NAPA’s augmented reality training
53:32 Balancing textbook learning and hands-on
56:37 Mike’s 90-day check-in
