In this episode of Automate or Die Trying, host Wil Ramos sits down with Todd Merrill, Partner and Fractional CTO at TechCXO, Global Top 25 Consultant, and AI investor with more than 30 years of experience building mission-critical systems.

Todd shares his journey from holding patents on the first cable modem and deploying software on space-shuttle-launched satellites, to running early AWS production workloads, and now advising startups and enterprises on scaling AI securely. He explains how his background in telecom, cybersecurity, and embedded systems shaped his disciplined approach to reliability and risk.

The conversation explores AI and automation at scale, including why Todd was initially skeptical of large language models and what changed his perspective. He discusses how tool-augmented AI, connected to real enterprise systems, is unlocking hyper-productivity—while also introducing new security and operational challenges.

Finally, Todd shares practical advice for leaders adopting AI, emphasizing human-in-the-loop systems, strong change management, and protecting customer data as non-negotiables when moving fast

1. How AI has changed the economics of building and scaling software
2. Why security gets harder as systems become more complex
3. The role of human-in-the-loop AI in high-stakes environments
4. Common security shortcuts that put fast-growing companies at risk
5. Why change management—not technology—derails most transformations

“AI won’t replace people, but it will make capable people dramatically more powerful when security and judgment come first.”

1. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/toddmerrill
2. Company: techcxo.com/partners/todd-merrill/

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