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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