Cars.com’s ‘Carson’ Uses AI to Convert Questions to Sales

Cars.com announced the launch of Carson, a new, AI-powered search tool that allows consumers to submit conversational queries and already boasts a 30% higher conversion rate.
The new tool, which already accounts for 15% of Cars.com searches, is multilingual and designed to convert queries such as “I need something reliable for my family of 5 that won’t break the bank” or “Great deal on a used truck under $30k that can tow” into clicks on vehicle description pages.
Executives say terms such as “reliable,” “safe” and “flashy” have proved popular, as have queries that include the terms “good for a new teen driver” and “fit my family and dog.”
“AI has the opportunity to speed and enhance car shopping and selling. … Carson is a great example of our commitment to leveraging the latest technology to simplify complex processes within the automotive industry, vastly improve the car shopping experience, and deliver more value to our partners,” writes Senior Director of Product Management Matt McDonald in a release.



