Understanding AI and Automation: Tools for Different Jobs
AI and automation are powerful but distinct tools: automation handles repetitive, rule-based tasks with speed and consistency, while AI brings adaptability and insight to unstructured or judgment-based work. Automation is best for predictable workflows; AI excels when interpretation or context is needed. The real value comes from combining bothโletting AI generate content or insights and automation handle the follow-through. Together, they enable smarter, more efficient workflows that free up time for meaningful work.
Dawn Thiart
7/15/20251 min read
In the rush to modernise, ๐๐ and ๐ฎ๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป often get used interchangeably โ but theyโre not the same thing. While both help us work faster and smarter, they solve different types of problems.
Hereโs a breakdown to help you understand when to use each โ and how to combine them for the best results.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
Automation is about efficiency. It follows predefined rules to complete repetitive, structured tasks โ quickly and without deviation.
Think:
โข Auto-approving expense claims under a certain amount
โข Scheduling daily reports
โข Sending email notifications when a form is submitted
Automation is predictable, reliable, and great for workflows that donโt need human judgement.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is about adaptability. It uses data and context to make informed decisions, even in ambiguous situations.
Think:
โข Drafting a response to a customer query
โข Summarising meeting notes
โข Predicting customer churn
โข Recommending next steps based on past patterns
AI doesnโt just follow instructions โ it interprets and learns, often improving over time.
๐ช๐ต๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ผ ๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต
Use Automation When... Use AI When...
The task is rule-based -> The task requires context or judgement
The process doesnโt change -> The input varies or is unstructured
You want speed and consistency -> You want insights, summaries, or predictions
๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐ง๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ
The real power comes when you ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ AI and automation. For example:
โข AI drafts a customer email โ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป sends it once approved
โข AI analyses a support ticket โ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป routes it to the right team
โข AI extracts data from documents โ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป enters it into your system
Together, they create ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ณ๐น๐ผ๐๐.
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต๐
AI and automation arenโt competing technologies โ theyโre complementary. The key is understanding ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐, and using them to free up your time for the work that really matters.
The future of work isnโt just faster.
Itโs faster ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ smarter.