What is the Difference Between AI and Automation?

AI and automation are two terms that are often used interchangeably, probably because they serve similar purposes: to help businesses operate smarter and more efficiently. In this blog, we give you a deeper understanding of the two terms and how they are different.

Skip to:

1. What is automation?
2. What is AI?
3. Automation vs AI: key differences
4. How is AI used in automation?
5. How can you get started with AI-based automation?

Many companies today have already adopted automation due to its ability to effectively perform tasks at high speed and accuracy. The next step for these companies is AI.

What is automation?

Automation is about setting up robots to follow orders; “if I say 'A' the robot does 'B'”. We, the humans, define the rules, and the robots perform them. That's the essence of automation.

The point of this is to free humans from highly repetitive tasks that are tedious and error-prone.

When us humans perform repetitive tasks, we tend to not only get bored, but also make mistakes. Robots don't (unless they are set up incorrectly) and can also perform these tasks faster. They also don't get sick or take holidays, which is of great convenience to employers.

Of course, not all tasks are performed better by robots – which is why we shouldn't fear being replaced by them anytime soon. Instead, we should view automation as something that supports us and frees up our time, so that we can do other types of tasks that require critical and creative thinking.

"If I say A the robot does B.” We, the humans, define the rules, and the robots perform them. That's the essence of automation.

When robots perform the jobs robots are best at, humans can perform the jobs they are best at. The result is then more efficient work forces and happier employees. It's quite the win-win situation.

So how does automation work in practice? Well, to set up automation you have to find a way to tell the robot what to do. In order to do that, you have to speak robot.

There are different approaches to this, depending on what you're automating. If you're automating tests, you can either code your way through it in a free, open-source tool such as Selenium, or you can automate without code with an automation tool such as Leapwork.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Automation vs. AI: What's the difference?

This brings us to AI vs. automation.

As mentioned, AI and automation are often discussed together because they both involve using technology to perform tasks traditionally done by humans. However, while they overlap, they have distinct characteristics and applications.

The point of AI isn't to perform repetitive tasks like automation. Instead, AI is designed to mimic humans at a more intellectual level, and to be able to perform tasks that they learn by observing patterns and past outcomes.

The point of AI isn't to perform repetitive tasks like automation. Instead, AI is designed to mimic humans at a more intellectual level, and to be able to perform tasks that they learn by observing patterns and past outcomes.

In that sense, you could say that AI is a more advanced form of automation. It introduces an element of intelligence to automation, allowing it to perform a broader range of tasks and adapt over time based on new data and experiences. Automation, however, remains focused on consistency and reliability in performing repetitive tasks.

Where automation is about setting up robots to follow a set of pre-defined rules, AI is about setting up robots to make their own decisions (though still based on human input).

In other words, they're designed to learn and act on what they learn, rather than merely take orders.

This is why some people see a potential threat in AIs taking over jobs and even becoming so intelligent that they can outsmart humans (like we saw in this sci-fi action film featuring Will Smith).

However, AIs today are still very far from world-domination.

Narrow AIs are only trained with certain intentions, and although they can learn within this area, they cannot go beyond that. For example, although IBM Watson was able to win a game of Jeopardy, it would not be able to win a game of chess.

Still confused?

We asked ChatGPT once again to help us define and provide some clarity on the differences and similarities of AI and automation. Here's what ChatGPT said:

Similarities between AI and Automation:

1. Efficiency and Productivity: Both AI and automation are used to increase efficiency and productivity in various industries. They reduce the need for human labor for repetitive or easily codified tasks, thus speeding up processes and reducing errors.

2. Task Execution: At a fundamental level, both AI and automation involve machines carrying out tasks. Whether these are physical tasks (like in manufacturing) or cognitive tasks (like data analysis), the goal is to reduce the human workload.

3. Technological Progress: Both are results of advances in technology and are crucial in the ongoing transformation in industries such as manufacturing, services, and business processes.

Differences between AI and Automation:

1. Complexity and Adaptability: Automation is typically rule-based and designed to perform a highly specific, repetitive task without variation. It doesn't "learn" from its experiences but rather follows pre-set instructions. In contrast, AI involves a level of complexity and adaptability; it can learn from data, improve over time, and make decisions based on its learning. AI can handle a wider variety of tasks and adapt to new situations that it wasn't explicitly programmed for.

2. Scope of Application: Automation is generally applied to tasks that require consistency and precision but do not necessarily require adaptation or decision-making based on unknown variables. AI, particularly with the inclusion of machine learning, is applied to areas requiring decision-making that mimics human judgment, such as recognizing speech, interpreting complex data, or predicting trends.

3. Technological Foundations: While automation can be as simple as a mechanical device designed to multiply human effort (like a lever or pulley system), modern automation often involves more complex machinery and software. AI, on the other hand, relies on sophisticated algorithms and computational theories like neural networks, natural language processing, and more, to perform tasks that require cognitive abilities.

4. Goal Orientation: Automation's primary goal is to perform a task exactly and repeatedly with high reliability. AI's goals can be more aligned with mimicking human behaviors and performing tasks in a way that is perceived as intelligent or thoughtful.

Here's a side-by-side comparison of AI and automation to provide a clearer overview of their similarities and differences (and yes, you guessed it - ChatGPT also helped us here):

How is AI used in automation?

AI and automation example

Imagine an enterprise that has a customer service center.

Every day, thousands of emails are received by the customer service center – so many that they cannot respond to those emails within a 24 hour time span with their existing resources.

Without adding human resources, the management wants to find a way that customers can be served right away, and either resolve their issue immediately by email or by being put in contact with a customer service person.

To do this, the company automates the email classification process. Based on key words that the automation robot finds in the emails, the robot sorts them into different folders, and assigns them to the right person.

This helps speed up the process, but it still doesn't allow the customer to retrieve an answer to their request right away. For this, AI is needed.

AI technology, more specifically Natural Language Processing (NLP), which is just one type of AI, can be used to interpret the intent of the request in the email. Based on that interpretation, the AI robot can then send out a response right away that immediately resolves the customer's problem.