diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0dca6f10a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+## Version Update
+
+Select exactly one version update type. This choice is used by CI after the PR is merged into
+`main` to update `connect/package.json`, create the release tag, and publish the package to npm.
+
+- [ ] major
+- [ ] minor
+- [ ] patch
diff --git a/.github/workflows/connect.yml b/.github/workflows/connect.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index baff628ea..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/connect.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,132 +0,0 @@
-name: 🧰 Test & Deploy AO Connect
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "connect/**"
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "connect/**"
-  
-  # Perform a release using a workflow dispatch
-  workflow_dispatch:
-    inputs:
-      version:
-        description: "semver version to bump to"
-        required: true
-
-defaults:
-  run:
-    shell: bash
-
-jobs:
-
-  test:
-    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: connect
-        run: |
-          npm i
-
-      - name: ⚡ Run Tests
-        working-directory: connect
-        run: |
-          npm test
-        env:
-          CI: true
-  
-  test-integration:
-    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: connect
-        run: |
-          npm i
-
-      - name: ⚡ Run Tests
-        working-directory: connect
-        run: |
-          npm run test:integration
-        env:
-          CI: true
-
-  release:
-    # Releases are performed via a workflow dispatch
-    if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    concurrency:
-      group: release
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          ref: main
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-          registry-url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
-
-      - name: 👀 Env
-        run: |
-          echo "Event name: ${{ github.event_name }}"
-          echo "Git ref:    ${{ github.ref }}"
-          echo "GH actor:   ${{ github.actor }}"
-          echo "SHA:        ${{ github.sha }}"
-          VER=`node --version`; echo "Node ver:   $VER"
-          VER=`npm --version`; echo "npm ver:    $VER"
-
-      - name: 🤓 Set Git User
-        run: |
-          git config --global user.name "${{ github.actor }}"
-          git config --global user.email "${{ github.actor }}@users.noreply.github.com"
-
-      - name: ✊ Bump
-        id: bump
-        uses: hyper63/hyper-ci-bump@v2.0.3
-        with:
-          bump-to: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
-          package: connect
-
-      - name: ⬆️ Push
-        run: |
-          git push
-          git push --tags
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: connect
-        run: |
-          npm i
-      
-      - name: 🦠 Publish to NPM
-        working-directory: connect
-        run: |
-          npm run build
-          npm publish --access=public
-        env:
-          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dev-cli.yml b/.github/workflows/dev-cli.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 0cfdd0ffb..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/dev-cli.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,317 +0,0 @@
-name: 👨‍💻 Test & Deploy AO CLI
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "dev-cli/**"
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "dev-cli/**"
-
-  # Perform a release using a workflow dispatch
-  workflow_dispatch:
-    inputs:
-      version:
-        description: "semver version to bump to"
-        required: true
-
-defaults:
-  run:
-    shell: bash
-    working-directory: dev-cli
-
-jobs:
-  # Run only run tests on PRs and pushes to main
-  test:
-    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    strategy:
-      matrix:
-        deno-version: [1.x]
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: 🦕 Setup Deno
-        uses: denoland/setup-deno@v1
-        with:
-          deno-version: ${{ matrix.deno-version }}
-
-      - name: ⚡ Run Tests
-        run: |
-          deno task test
-        env:
-          CI: true
-
-  test-node-commands:
-    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: dev-cli/container/src/node
-        run: |
-          npm i
-
-      - name: ⚡ Run Tests
-        working-directory: dev-cli/container/src/node
-        run: |
-          npm test
-        env:
-          CI: true
-
-  release:
-    # Releases are performed via a workflow dispatch
-    if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    timeout-minutes: 30
-    concurrency:
-      group: release
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: 🦕 Setup Deno
-        uses: denoland/setup-deno@v1
-        with:
-          deno-version: 1.x
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: dev-cli/tools/deploy
-        run: |
-          npm i
-
-      - name: 👀 Env
-        run: |
-          echo "Event name: ${{ github.event_name }}"
-          echo "Git ref:    ${{ github.ref }}"
-          echo "GH actor:   ${{ github.actor }}"
-          echo "SHA:        ${{ github.sha }}"
-          VER=`node --version`; echo "Node ver:   $VER"
-          VER=`npm --version`; echo "npm ver:    $VER"
-          VER=`deno --version`; echo "deno ver:    $VER"
-
-      - name: 🔬 Decode Wallet JSON File
-        uses: timheuer/base64-to-file@v1
-        id: wallet_file
-        with:
-          fileName: wallet.json
-          encodedString: ${{ secrets.CI_WALLET }}
-
-      - name: 🔬 Decode ArNS Wallet JSON File
-        uses: timheuer/base64-to-file@v1
-        id: arns_wallet_file
-        with:
-          fileName: arns_wallet.json
-          encodedString: ${{ secrets.CI_AO_ARNS_WALLET }}
-
-      # The version in the manifest is used to set the version
-      # displayed for the CI. So we need to update version,
-      # prior to building the binaries
-      #
-      # So we update version here. If CI fails, then that bump is
-      # never pushed. If it succeeds, the CI will push any changes to the
-      # manifest, including the version bump, which is what we want
-      - name: 🔺 Update Version
-        id: version
-        run: |
-          VERSION=$(deno task bump --version=${INPUT_VERSION})
-          echo "version=${VERSION}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        env:
-          INPUT_VERSION: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
-
-      - name: 🛠 Build Binaries
-        id: build_binaries
-        run: |
-          BINARIES_OUTPUT_DIR=$(\
-            deno task build-binaries \
-            | tail -1
-          )
-          echo "binaries_output_dir=${BINARIES_OUTPUT_DIR}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        env:
-          CI: true
-
-      - name: Install ArDrive CLI
-        run: |
-          npm i -g ardrive-cli@2
-
-      - name: 💾 Publish Binaries to Arweave
-        id: publish_binaries
-
-        #
-        # Use the ArDrive CLI to:
-        # - create a new folder in the ao CLI Artifacts Drive
-        # - upload binaries to that folder
-        # - create a manifest of the folder
-        # We also add additional tags in order to mint $U
-        #
-        run: |
-          echo "Creating folder for binaries on ArDrive..."
-
-          ARDRIVE_FOLDER_RESULT=$(\
-            ardrive create-folder \
-              --turbo \
-              --parent-folder-id "${ARDRIVE_FOLDER_ID}" \
-              --folder-name "${VERSION}" \
-              -w "${WALLET}"
-          )
-
-          echo "${ARDRIVE_FOLDER_RESULT}"
-
-          FOLDER_ID=$(\
-            echo "${ARDRIVE_FOLDER_RESULT}" \
-            | jq -r '.created[0].entityId'
-          )
-
-          until ardrive folder-info \
-            --folder-id \
-            "${FOLDER_ID}"; do
-            echo "ArDrive folder has not yet synced. Sleeping for 2 seconds..."
-            sleep 2
-          done
-          
-          echo "Uploading Binaries..."
-
-          ardrive upload-file \
-            --turbo \
-            --parent-folder-id "${FOLDER_ID}" \
-            --local-paths "${BINARIES_OUTPUT_DIR}"/*.zip \
-            -w "${WALLET}"
-
-          until [[ $(ardrive list-folder \
-            --parent-folder-id "${FOLDER_ID}" \
-            | jq 'length') -ge 5 ]]; do
-            echo "ArDrive folder binaries have not yet synced. Sleeping for 2 seconds..."
-            sleep 2
-          done
-
-          echo "Generating Manifest..."
-
-          ARDRIVE_MANIFEST_RESULTS=$(\
-            ardrive create-manifest \
-              --turbo \
-              -f "${FOLDER_ID}" \
-              -w "${WALLET}"
-          )
-
-          echo "${ARDRIVE_MANIFEST_RESULTS}"
-
-          BINARIES_TRANSACTION_ID=$(\
-            echo "${ARDRIVE_MANIFEST_RESULTS}" \
-            | jq -r '.created[0].dataTxId'
-          )
-
-          echo "folder_id=${FOLDER_ID}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-          echo "tx_id=${BINARIES_TRANSACTION_ID}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        env:
-          WALLET: ${{ steps.wallet_file.outputs.filePath }}
-          VERSION: ${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}
-          BINARIES_OUTPUT_DIR: ${{ steps.build_binaries.outputs.binaries_output_dir }}
-          ARDRIVE_FOLDER_ID: ${{ secrets.CLI_ARDRIVE_FOLDER_ID }}
-
-      - name: 🛠 Build Install Script
-        id: build_install_script
-        run: |
-          INSTALL_SCRIPT=$(deno task build-install-script --binaries=${BINARIES_TRANSACTION_ID})
-          echo "install_script=${INSTALL_SCRIPT}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        env:
-          CI: true
-          BINARIES_TRANSACTION_ID: ${{ steps.publish_binaries.outputs.tx_id }}
-
-      #
-      # Use the ArDrive CLI to:
-      # - upload the install script to the same folder
-      #
-      # Then finally trigger script to update ArNS for install-ao
-      - name: 🛠 Publish Install Script to Arweave
-        id: publish_install
-        # We output text to stdout, the final line containing
-        # the url of the transaction. We only need the transaction id
-        #
-        # So we tail the output and strip the last part of the printed url
-        # which should be the transaction id
-        run: |
-          echo "Uploading Install Script..."
-
-          ARDRIVE_FILE_RESULTS=$(\
-            ardrive upload-file \
-              --turbo \
-              --parent-folder-id "${FOLDER_ID}" \
-              --local-path "${INSTALL_SCRIPT}" \
-              -w "${WALLET}"
-          )
-
-          echo "${ARDRIVE_FILE_RESULTS}"
-
-          INSTALL_TRANSACTION_ID=$(\
-            echo "${ARDRIVE_FILE_RESULTS}" \
-            | jq -r '.created[0].dataTxId'
-          )
-
-          echo "tx_id=${INSTALL_TRANSACTION_ID}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
-        env:
-          WALLET: ${{ steps.wallet_file.outputs.filePath }}
-          FOLDER_ID: ${{ steps.publish_binaries.outputs.folder_id }}
-          INSTALL_SCRIPT: ${{ steps.build_install_script.outputs.install_script }}
-
-      - name: Update install_ao ArNS
-        run: |
-          echo "Updating install_ao ArNS with new install script tx..."
-
-          INSTALL_SCRIPT_ID="${INSTALL_TRANSACTION_ID}" deno task arns-install-script
-        env:
-          # A seprate wallet controls the AO ANT, so we use it to update ArNS
-          WALLET: ${{ steps.arns_wallet_file.outputs.filePath }}
-          INSTALL_TRANSACTION_ID: ${{ steps.publish_install.outputs.tx_id }}
-
-      - name: 🤓 Set Git User
-        run: |
-          git config --global user.name "${{ github.actor }}"
-          git config --global user.email "${{ github.actor }}@users.noreply.github.com"
-
-      # Until we use something like ArNS, we need a way to keep track of the transactions
-      # that contain the ao CLI
-      #
-      # So we will persist the transaction ids into this file, committed as part of this CI
-      - name: 🗺️ Update txMappings
-        run: |
-          deno task tx-mappings \
-            --version=${VERSION} \
-            --binaries=${BINARIES_TRANSACTION_ID} \
-            --install=${INSTALL_TRANSACTION_ID} \
-            --latest
-          deno fmt deno.json
-        env:
-          VERSION: ${{ steps.version.outputs.version }}
-          BINARIES_TRANSACTION_ID: ${{ steps.publish_binaries.outputs.tx_id }}
-          INSTALL_TRANSACTION_ID: ${{ steps.publish_install.outputs.tx_id }}
-
-      - name: ⬆️ Push
-        # We purposefully don't use "--follow-tags" here
-        #
-        # Git will push tags in parallel when using '--follow-tags'.
-        # So if the tip of trunk has changed, this will cause the tag to be pushed, but not the commit.
-        #
-        # To get around this, we first attempt to push the commit. If it succeeds, the tag is then pushed.
-        # If pushing the commit fails, then the step fails and no tag is pushed up, which is what we want.
-        run: |
-          git add deno.json src/versions.js
-          git commit -m "chore(dev-cli): bump version and update txMappings"
-          git push
-          git push --tags
diff --git a/.github/workflows/loader.yml b/.github/workflows/loader.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 68f062a99..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/loader.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,131 +0,0 @@
-name: ✨ Test & Deploy AO Wasm Loader
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "loader/**"
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "loader/**"
-
-  # Perform a release using a workflow dispatch
-  workflow_dispatch:
-    inputs:
-      version:
-        description: "semver version to bump to"
-        required: true
-
-defaults:
-  run:
-    shell: bash
-
-jobs:
-  test:
-    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 22
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: loader
-        run: |
-          npm i
-
-      - name: ⚡ Run Tests
-        working-directory: loader
-        run: |
-          npm test
-        env:
-          CI: true
-
-  test-integration:
-    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 22
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: loader
-        run: |
-          npm i
-
-      - name: ⚡ Run Tests
-        working-directory: loader
-        run: |
-          npm run test:integration
-        env:
-          CI: true
-
-  release:
-    # Releases are performed via a workflow dispatch
-    if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    concurrency:
-      group: release
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          ref: main
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-          registry-url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
-
-      - name: 👀 Env
-        run: |
-          echo "Event name: ${{ github.event_name }}"
-          echo "Git ref:    ${{ github.ref }}"
-          echo "GH actor:   ${{ github.actor }}"
-          echo "SHA:        ${{ github.sha }}"
-          VER=`node --version`; echo "Node ver:   $VER"
-          VER=`npm --version`; echo "npm ver:    $VER"
-
-      - name: 🤓 Set Git User
-        run: |
-          git config --global user.name "${{ github.actor }}"
-          git config --global user.email "${{ github.actor }}@users.noreply.github.com"
-
-      - name: ✊ Bump
-        id: bump
-        uses: hyper63/hyper-ci-bump@v2.0.3
-        with:
-          bump-to: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
-          package: loader
-
-      - name: ⬆️ Push
-        run: |
-          git push
-          git push --tags
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: loader
-        run: |
-          npm i
-
-      - name: 🦠 Publish to NPM
-        working-directory: loader
-        run: |
-          npm run build
-          npm publish
-        env:
-          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/protocol-tag-utils.yml b/.github/workflows/protocol-tag-utils.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 97918c0a5..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/protocol-tag-utils.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,108 +0,0 @@
-name: 🔖🛠 Test & Deploy Protocol Tag Utils
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "protocol-tag-utils/**"
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "protocol-tag-utils/**"
-  
-  # Perform a release using a workflow dispatch
-  workflow_dispatch:
-    inputs:
-      version:
-        description: "semver version to bump to"
-        required: true
-
-defaults:
-  run:
-    shell: bash
-
-jobs:
-
-  test:
-    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: protocol-tag-utils
-        run: |
-          npm i
-
-      - name: ⚡ Run Tests
-        working-directory: protocol-tag-utils
-        run: |
-          npm test
-        env:
-          CI: true
-
-  release:
-    # Releases are performed via a workflow dispatch
-    if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    concurrency:
-      group: release
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          ref: main
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-          registry-url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
-
-      - name: 👀 Env
-        run: |
-          echo "Event name: ${{ github.event_name }}"
-          echo "Git ref:    ${{ github.ref }}"
-          echo "GH actor:   ${{ github.actor }}"
-          echo "SHA:        ${{ github.sha }}"
-          VER=`node --version`; echo "Node ver:   $VER"
-          VER=`npm --version`; echo "npm ver:    $VER"
-
-      - name: 🤓 Set Git User
-        run: |
-          git config --global user.name "${{ github.actor }}"
-          git config --global user.email "${{ github.actor }}@users.noreply.github.com"
-
-      - name: ✊ Bump
-        id: bump
-        uses: hyper63/hyper-ci-bump@v2.0.3
-        with:
-          bump-to: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
-          package: protocol-tag-utils
-
-      - name: ⬆️ Push
-        run: |
-          git push
-          git push --tags
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: protocol-tag-utils
-        run: |
-          npm i
-      
-      - name: 🦠 Publish to NPM
-        working-directory: protocol-tag-utils
-        run: |
-          npm run build
-          npm publish --access=public
-        env:
-          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yaml b/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7d9107aa1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish-npm.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+name: Auto Version, Tag, and Publish to NPM
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  workflow_dispatch:
+    inputs:
+      update_type:
+        description: Version update type
+        required: true
+        default: patch
+        type: choice
+        options:
+          - major
+          - minor
+          - patch
+
+concurrency:
+  group: npm-release
+  cancel-in-progress: false
+
+jobs:
+  publish:
+    if: "${{ github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch' || !startsWith(github.event.head_commit.message, 'chore: release ') }}"
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    permissions:
+      contents: write
+      id-token: write
+      pull-requests: read
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 0
+          token: ${{ secrets.DEPLOY_PAT || github.token }}
+
+      - name: Setup Node.js
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: '22.14.0'
+          registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
+
+      - name: Install npm with OIDC support
+        run: npm install --global npm@^11.5.1
+
+      - name: Get version update type
+        id: release-type
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const updateTypes = ['major', 'minor', 'patch'];
+
+            function selectedUpdateTypes(body) {
+              return updateTypes.filter((type) => {
+                const pattern = new RegExp(`^- \\[[xX]\\]\\s*${type}\\s*$`, 'im');
+                return pattern.test(body ?? '');
+              });
+            }
+
+            if (context.eventName === 'workflow_dispatch') {
+              const updateType = context.payload.inputs?.update_type;
+
+              if (!updateTypes.includes(updateType)) {
+                core.setFailed(`Invalid version update type: ${updateType}`);
+                return;
+              }
+
+              core.setOutput('update-type', updateType);
+              core.info(`Selected version update: ${updateType}`);
+              return;
+            }
+
+            const { owner, repo } = context.repo;
+            const response = await github.rest.repos.listPullRequestsAssociatedWithCommit({
+              owner,
+              repo,
+              commit_sha: context.sha,
+            });
+
+            const pullRequest =
+              response.data.find((pr) => pr.merged_at && pr.base.ref === 'main') ??
+              response.data.find((pr) => pr.merged_at);
+
+            if (!pullRequest) {
+              core.setFailed(`No merged pull request found for commit ${context.sha}.`);
+              return;
+            }
+
+            const selected = selectedUpdateTypes(pullRequest.body);
+
+            if (selected.length !== 1) {
+              core.setFailed(
+                `PR #${pullRequest.number} must have exactly one version update checkbox selected. Found ${selected.length}.`,
+              );
+              return;
+            }
+
+            core.setOutput('update-type', selected[0]);
+            core.setOutput('pr-number', String(pullRequest.number));
+            core.info(`Selected version update from PR #${pullRequest.number}: ${selected[0]}`);
+
+      - name: Bump package version
+        id: package-version
+        run: |
+          npm version "$UPDATE_TYPE" --no-git-tag-version
+          PACKAGE_NAME=$(node -p "require('./package.json').name")
+          VERSION=$(node -p "require('./package.json').version")
+          echo "package-name=$PACKAGE_NAME" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "version=$VERSION" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
+          echo "Bumped $PACKAGE_NAME to $VERSION"
+        working-directory: ./connect
+        env:
+          UPDATE_TYPE: ${{ steps.release-type.outputs.update-type }}
+
+      - name: Check release availability
+        run: |
+          if git tag --list "v${PACKAGE_VERSION}" | grep -q .; then
+            echo "::error::Tag v${PACKAGE_VERSION} already exists"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
+          if npm view "${PACKAGE_NAME}@${PACKAGE_VERSION}" version --registry=https://registry.npmjs.org > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+            echo "::error::${PACKAGE_NAME}@${PACKAGE_VERSION} already exists on npm"
+            exit 1
+          fi
+        env:
+          PACKAGE_NAME: ${{ steps.package-version.outputs.package-name }}
+          PACKAGE_VERSION: ${{ steps.package-version.outputs.version }}
+
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: npm ci
+        working-directory: ./connect
+
+      - name: Build package
+        run: npm run build
+        working-directory: ./connect
+
+      - name: Commit version bump and tag
+        run: |
+          git config user.name "github-actions[bot]"
+          git config user.email "github-actions[bot]@users.noreply.github.com"
+          git add connect/package.json connect/package-lock.json
+          git commit -m "chore: release v${PACKAGE_VERSION} [skip ci]"
+          git tag "v${PACKAGE_VERSION}"
+          git push origin HEAD:main
+          git push origin "v${PACKAGE_VERSION}"
+        env:
+          PACKAGE_VERSION: ${{ steps.package-version.outputs.version }}
+
+      - name: Publish to NPM
+        run: npm publish
+        working-directory: ./connect
diff --git a/.github/workflows/scheduler-utils.yml b/.github/workflows/scheduler-utils.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index cd3e5874d..000000000
--- a/.github/workflows/scheduler-utils.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,112 +0,0 @@
-name: ⏰ Test & Deploy AO Scheduler Utils
-
-on:
-  pull_request:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "scheduler-utils/**"
-  push:
-    branches:
-      - main
-    paths:
-      - "scheduler-utils/**"
-  
-  # Perform a release using a workflow dispatch
-  workflow_dispatch:
-    inputs:
-      version:
-        description: "semver version to bump to"
-        required: true
-
-defaults:
-  run:
-    shell: bash
-
-jobs:
-
-  test:
-    if: github.event_name != 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        node-version: [18.x, 20.x, 22.x]
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: scheduler-utils
-        run: |
-          npm i
-
-      - name: ⚡ Run Tests
-        working-directory: scheduler-utils
-        run: |
-          npm test
-        env:
-          CI: true
-
-  release:
-    # Releases are performed via a workflow dispatch
-    if: github.event_name == 'workflow_dispatch'
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    concurrency:
-      group: release
-    steps:
-      - name: ⬇️ Checkout repo
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 0
-          ref: main
-
-      - name: ⎔ Setup node
-        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        with:
-          node-version: 20
-          registry-url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
-
-      - name: 👀 Env
-        run: |
-          echo "Event name: ${{ github.event_name }}"
-          echo "Git ref:    ${{ github.ref }}"
-          echo "GH actor:   ${{ github.actor }}"
-          echo "SHA:        ${{ github.sha }}"
-          VER=`node --version`; echo "Node ver:   $VER"
-          VER=`npm --version`; echo "npm ver:    $VER"
-
-      - name: 🤓 Set Git User
-        run: |
-          git config --global user.name "${{ github.actor }}"
-          git config --global user.email "${{ github.actor }}@users.noreply.github.com"
-
-      - name: ✊ Bump
-        id: bump
-        uses: hyper63/hyper-ci-bump@v2.0.3
-        with:
-          bump-to: ${{ github.event.inputs.version }}
-          package: scheduler-utils
-
-      - name: ⬆️ Push
-        run: |
-          git push
-          git push --tags
-
-      - name: 📥 Download deps
-        working-directory: scheduler-utils
-        run: |
-          npm i
-      
-      - name: 🦠 Publish to NPM
-        working-directory: scheduler-utils
-        run: |
-          npm run build
-          npm publish --access=public
-        env:
-          NODE_AUTH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/validate-version-selection.yaml b/.github/workflows/validate-version-selection.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e493b28f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/validate-version-selection.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+name: Validate Version Selection
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - main
+    types:
+      - opened
+      - synchronize
+      - reopened
+      - edited
+      - ready_for_review
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  validate-version-selection:
+    name: Validate version selection
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Validate release checkbox
+        uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          script: |
+            const body = context.payload.pull_request?.body ?? '';
+            const updateTypes = ['major', 'minor', 'patch'];
+            const selected = updateTypes.filter((type) => {
+              const pattern = new RegExp(`^- \\[[xX]\\]\\s*${type}\\s*$`, 'im');
+              return pattern.test(body);
+            });
+
+            if (selected.length !== 1) {
+              core.setFailed(
+                `Select exactly one version update checkbox in the PR body. Found ${selected.length}.`,
+              );
+              return;
+            }
+
+            core.info(`Selected version update: ${selected[0]}`);
diff --git a/connect/package.json b/connect/package.json
index 2d5112718..d17f6046a 100644
--- a/connect/package.json
+++ b/connect/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@permaweb/aoconnect",
-  "version": "0.0.96",
+  "version": "0.0.97",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
     "url": "https://github.com/permaweb/ao.git",
diff --git a/connect/src/client/ao-core.js b/connect/src/client/ao-core.js
index 0dc8116ee..5f23c85e7 100644
--- a/connect/src/client/ao-core.js
+++ b/connect/src/client/ao-core.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ function normalizeOutput(jsonRes) {
   try {
     body = typeof jsonRes === 'string'
       ? JSON.parse(jsonRes?.results?.json?.body)
-      : jsonRes?.results?.raw ?? {};
+      : jsonRes?.raw ?? {};
   } catch {}
 
   debugLog('info', 'Parsed HyperBEAM Response Body:', body);
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ export function resultWith(deps) {
   return async (args) => {
     try {
       const params = {
-        path: `/${args.process}~process@1.0/compute=${args.slot ?? args.message}`,
+        path: `/${args.process}~process@1.0/compute/results=${args.slot ?? args.message}`,
         target: args.process,
         data: getData(args),
         ...getTags(args),
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ export function resultsWith(deps) {
           const currentSlot = await slotResponse.text();
 
           const resultsParams = {
-            path: `/${args.process}/compute=${currentSlot}`,
+            path: `/${args.process}/compute/results=${currentSlot}`,
             ...jsonParams
           }