Intro

Are you spending countless hours trying to figure out how to make AI work for your business, while bigger companies seem to have it all figured out? What if you could learn how one of the world's most innovative companies actually implements AI, and discover how to scale those same strategies in your business - without the enterprise budget?

The truth is, most small businesses are drowning in AI tools and possibilities, unsure which strategies actually drive results and which are just burning time and money. They're stuck watching larger companies pull ahead while trying to piece together a working AI strategy.

But today, we're going to change that. I'm thrilled to welcome Michael Todasco, former Director of Innovation at PayPal, where he managed over 100 patents and drove innovation initiatives that transformed how one of fintech's biggest players leverages AI. Now, Michael spends his time helping businesses of all sizes implement practical AI solutions that drive real results. He's going to share the strategies that actually work - no fluff, no complexity, just proven approaches you can implement starting today.

The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Mike Todasco about:

✨ Start Small, Think Big: Implement AI strategically by starting with one high-impact area while planning for scalable growth.

✨ Focus on Core Problems: Target AI implementation at solving specific business challenges rather than adopting technology for its own sake.

✨ Measure What Matters: Establish clear metrics and ROI goals before implementing any AI solution to ensure meaningful business impact.

Learn more about Mike Todasco

• Connect with Mike Todasco on LinkedIn

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

• PayPal
• James Silberrad Brown Center for Artificial Intelligence at SDSU
• Hanging up on ChatGPT’s Operator
• AI Primer: A Comprehensive Guide
• Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Business

02:08 Welcome to The AI Hat Podcast

02:32 Challenges and Opportunities for Small Businesses

03:06 Interview with Michael Todasco

04:51 AI Implementation at PayPal

06:17 Practical AI Solutions for Small Businesses

11:12 Creating an AI-First Culture

18:04 Augmented Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence

21:10 Debunking the Myth: AI as a Cheating Tool

21:41 Sponsor Break: Introducing Magai

23:41 Biggest Mistakes in AI Implementation

25:59 Success Stories and Real-World Applications

29:48 Measuring AI ROI for Businesses

32:59 Emerging AI Trends and Future Outlook

38:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

SHOW TRANSCRIPT & NOTES: https://theaihat.com/scale-like-paypal-simple-ai-strategies-that-actually-work-for-small-business/

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Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, AI Consultant & Trainer at The AI Hat, where he's tirelessly helping businesses and marketers get ahead of the AI Revolution and apply advanced technologies to their roles. He's spent over a decade in digital marketing, bringing an unparalleled level of experience and excitement to the fore, whether he's delivering a presentation or leading a workshop. If you’re interested in helping business owners with AI in an upcoming episode, reach out to Mike.

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