At the VIP Dinner during the MAPconnected Service & Warranty Lifecycle Summit, the conversation moved quickly beyond theory and into execution.
Sponsored by the AI-SWLM Think Tank, this closed-room discussion helped set the tone for the MAPconnected Service & Warranty Lifecycle Network by focusing on how artificial intelligence is already influencing service and quality operations inside OEMs—today, not someday.
This was not a discussion about futuristic concepts or perfectly modeled ROI scenarios. It was a candid exchange grounded in real operational responsibility.
On stage together were two leaders working at the front lines of quality and warranty strategy:
- Josh Cohen, Manager, Global Warranty Strategy & Operations, General Motors
- Michael Cavaretta, Senior Director, Quality & Industrial System Analytics, Ford
Their presence alone underscored an important reality: AI adoption in service, warranty, and quality operations is no longer speculative. It is already happening inside the world’s largest OEMs, driven by the need to improve execution, responsiveness, and decision-making across increasingly complex systems.
Execution Over Perfect Certainty
A central theme emerged early and remained consistent throughout the conversation: progress does not come from waiting for perfect certainty.
As Michael Cavaretta stated:
“At some point, draw a line in the sand and deliver the technology.”
That sentiment resonated because it reflects the reality many service, warranty, and lifecycle leaders face today. The pressure to modernize operations continues to rise, while traditional decision frameworks—those that demand complete data clarity and guaranteed ROI before action—often stall momentum entirely.
The discussion highlighted a necessary shift in mindset: moving from prolonged evaluation to disciplined execution. When AI is treated as an operational capability rather than a theoretical experiment, it becomes a mechanism for learning, iteration, and improvement—not a risk to be endlessly debated.
Why the AI-SWLM Think Tank Exists
This is precisely the gap the AI-SWLM Think Tank was created to address.
The Think Tank brings together leaders across service, warranty, quality, and lifecycle operations to work through real challenges collaboratively—sharing insight, pressure-testing ideas, and learning from peers navigating similar decisions.
Rather than focusing on abstract use cases, the emphasis is on practical application:
- Where AI is being deployed today
- How leaders are managing tradeoffs
- What execution actually looks like inside complex organizations
These are not conversations designed for marketing stages. They are meant for trusted rooms where leaders can speak openly about what is working, what is not, and what comes next.
Access Through MyWarrantyNetwork
Participation in the AI-SWLM Think Tank is available through MyWarrantyNetwork membership, which provides access to the full MAPconnected engagement ecosystem, including:
- AI-SWLM Think Tank
- Leadership Xchange Groups
- MyWarrantyNetwork Members Hub
- Ongoing collaboration and insight across the MAPconnected community
For a limited time, a 20% membership discount is available through December 17.
The conversations shaping the future of service and warranty leadership are already underway. The question is no longer whether execution matters—but who is willing to step forward and deliver.