Skip to content
Sign in
Artwork for Rogue Startups
Rogue Startups · September 22 · 50 min

RS368: Grok Bot & Hermes

AI agents are getting a lot more capable, but are they actually making work easier yet? Craig and Colin compare their latest experiments with GrokBot, Hermes, OpenClaw, Claude Code, Codex, and other AI tools, including what works, what breaks, and where agents are genuinely reducing cognitive load. They dig into open vs. closed systems, shared company agents, local AI, model costs, and the idea of an AI chief of staff that keeps founders focused. Plus, Colin shares how he's using AI to overhaul a 15-year-old WordPress site, and they explore what the next generation of AI-powered websites and marketing tools might look like. Highlights from Craig and Colin’s conversation: Open vs. closed AI agents for running a business Why Craig chose Hermes as Castos' shared company agent The security challenge of giving AI agents real power Why AI should reduce cognitive load, not create more work How Colin uses AI for CRM, task management, and daily planning Claude Code vs. Codex, Cursor, and other AI development tools Why expensive AI models aren't always the best choice The case for running AI locally or privately How cheap AI access encourages founders to experiment Can an AI chief of staff actually keep you focused? Using AI to overhaul a 15-year-old content site How tiny AI-built tools could replace traditional lead magnets Resources and Links from This Episode: Produced by Castos Productions: https://castos.com/productions/ The Podcast Host: https://www.thepodcasthost.com/ Colin on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colinmcgray?originalSubdomain=uk Castos Free Tools: castos.com/tools Email me: podcast@roguestartups.com Find me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheCraigHewitt LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-hewitt-78386a66/ Email: podcast@roguestartups.com

0:00 · Intro and topic setup: bots and agents-50:28
Play in

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

AI agents are getting a lot more capable, but are they actually making work easier yet? 

Craig and Colin compare their latest experiments with GrokBot, Hermes, OpenClaw, Claude Code, Codex, and other AI tools, including what works, what breaks, and where agents are genuinely reducing cognitive load. 

They dig into open vs. closed systems, shared company agents, local AI, model costs, and the idea of an AI chief of staff that keeps founders focused. 

Plus, Colin shares how he's using AI to overhaul a 15-year-old WordPress site, and they explore what the next generation of AI-powered websites and marketing tools might look like.

Highlights from Craig and Colin’s conversation:

  • Open vs. closed AI agents for running a business
  • Why Craig chose Hermes as Castos' shared company agent
  • The security challenge of giving AI agents real power
  • Why AI should reduce cognitive load, not create more work
  • How Colin uses AI for CRM, task management, and daily planning
  • Claude Code vs. Codex, Cursor, and other AI development tools
  • Why expensive AI models aren't always the best choice
  • The case for running AI locally or privately
  • How cheap AI access encourages founders to experiment
  • Can an AI chief of staff actually keep you focused?
  • Using AI to overhaul a 15-year-old content site
  • How tiny AI-built tools could replace traditional lead magnets

Resources and Links from This Episode:

links6

chapters

21 chapters

more episodes

All episodes