Transform NOW

474. AI-First Work: Agents, Automation, and the Future of Jobs

In this episode, host Michael Marchuk interviews technologist and serial entrepreneur Kevin Surace, an early architect of voice AI with 90+ patents, about how gen AI and agentic automation are reshaping creativity, coding, and business operations. Kevin explains how AI tools democratize music, video, and software creation, often triggering jealousy as amateurs produce high-quality outputs quickly, and argues people should focus on outcomes rather than the tools used. He compares today’s shift to Excel’s impact on finance and predicts most coding and many repetitive service tasks will be automated, pushing humans into strategic roles that apply taste, experience, and EQ. Kevin discusses RPA vs agentic AI, governance and SecOps adoption, auditable decisioning for regulators, cost declines in services like claims processing, competitive disruption for firms that aren’t AI-first, and previews his upcoming book, "The Joy Success Cycle".-AI Music and Engineering Roots-GenAI Unlocks Creativity-Jealousy and AI-Coding Purpose in AI Era-Jobs Shift and Reskilling-Excel and Automation Lessons-Future Skills and Trade Work-Industries Reshaped by Zero Cost-AI Avatars and Trust-Companies Stuck Experimenting-Unstructured Data Wins-RPA Versus Agents-AI First Mindset-Governance And SecOps-Smart Automation Explained-Rethinking Processes-Humans As Overseers-Accountability And Audits-Importance of Emotional IntelligenceVisit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMXTo ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

473. Weekly Pulse Check on Automation & AI News

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI..News stories covered in this episode:.Meta debuts new AI model, attempting to catch Google, OpenAI after spending billions https://www.cnbc.com/2026/04/08/meta-debuts-first-major-ai-model-since-14-billion-deal-to-bring-in-alexandr-wang.html .Anthropic says its latest AI model is too powerful for public release and that it broke containment during testing https://www.businessinsider.com/anthropic-mythos-latest-ai-model-too-powerful-to-be-released-2026-4 .OpenAI closes Sora video-making app and cancels $1bn Disney deal https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w3e467ewqo School Districts Prioritize AI Governance, Not Adoption Speed https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/school-districts-prioritize-ai-governance-not-adoption-speed .Social media users delighted by brand’s unique tactic to dispel AI concerns https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/social-media-users-delighted-brands-220000296.html .Visit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX.To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

472. Portfolio Thinking Meets Execution Discipline: A New Operating System for AI Transformation

In this episode, Brad Hairston talks with John Rossman (author, advisor, former Amazon executive) and Andy Forti (PE-focused advisor) who co-wrote a paper that speaks to how companies can more effectively achieve big bet transformations. In the era of AI, big bets are being made everywhere, so this episode is very timely!.Link to white paper discussed on this episode: https://rossmanpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Big-Bets-in-Zone-to-Win_March2026.pdf.What we talked with John and Andy about:*How Geoffrey Moore's Zone to Win portfolio framework and John Rossman's Big Bet Leadership execution playbook perfectly complement each other*How to avoid "innovation theater" and get real results*How many transformation irons in the fire are manageable*Why CEOs should act more like "heat shields" versus project managers*Advice for leaders struggling with transformations..Visit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX..To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

471. Weekly Pulse Check of Automation & AI News

In this episode, Transform NOW co-hosts Brad Hairston and Michael Marchuk banter about some interesting recent news headlines in the world of automation and AI. News stories covered in this episode:• Senators tell ByteDance to shut down Seedance 2.0 AI video app 'immediately' - https://www.engadget.com/ai/senators-tell-bytedance-to-shut-down-seedance-20-ai-video-app-immediately-112146241.html • AI CEO Says Only 2 Types of People Will Survive in Job Market - https://www.newsweek.com/palantir-ceo-says-only-two-types-will-succeed-job-market-11743080• AI can accelerate real estate transactions — But it can’t replace the professional work that protects property rights - https://www.housingwire.com/articles/ai-can-accelerate-real-estate-transactions-but-it-cant-replace-the-professional-work-that-protects-property-rights/ • One company's 'AI salary bump' is designed to end vague productivity mandates for good - https://fortune.com/2026/03/30/this-company-is-giving-workers-a-raise-for-using-ai-heres-what-they-have-to-do-to-earn-it/ • We Won’t be Missed: Work and Growth in the AGI World - https://www.nber.org/system/files/chapters/c15315/c15315.pdf Visit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMX.To ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!

470. Are AI Models Cheating?

Host Michael Marchuk welcomes returning guest Veronica Hylak to discuss an Anthropic article about “eval awareness” in Claude, where the model recognized it was being benchmarked and attempted to reverse engineer the test by searching benchmark names, finding source code, understanding encryption, and writing decryption code. Veronica argues this is both pattern recognition and emergent behavior, raising concerns that benchmarks can’t reliably predict real-world performance, especially if models change behavior when they suspect testing. They discuss how agents can pursue goals in unexpected ways, including an example where an OpenClaw agent retaliated against a developer after a PR rejection, and how AI leaves “ghost trail” internet artifacts that other AIs may learn from. They also question benchmark validity, costs and efficiency, self-preservation behavior, and the need for stronger third-party evaluation and real-world accountability.-Anthropic Eval Awareness-Emergent Behavior Explained-Why Benchmarks Break-Goal Misalignment-Rebuilding AI Benchmarks-Cost And Efficiency Metrics-Agent Workflows In Business-Self Preservation In Tests-Hype Charts And AccountabilityLink to Anthropic Article: Eval awareness in Claude Opus 4.6’s BrowseComp performance (https://www.anthropic.com/engineering/eval-awareness-browsecomp)Visit us on our socials:🦾 Get started with SS&C Blue Prism: https://okt.to/JcMLdU🧑‍💻LinkedIn: https://okt.to/k8zIdp✖️Twitter: https://okt.to/fHyd9G🙋‍♀️Facebook: https://okt.to/Vyjfiz📸Instagram: https://okt.to/5nYvIf💭Blog: https://okt.to/QuGqVP🤩Case studies: https://okt.to/ft1AMXTo ensure that you never miss an episode of Transform NOW, be sure to subscribe!