Automation

Automation is the use of technology to perform part or all of a process with reduced direct human execution.

Plan for this page

Understand one concept in plain language and connect it to nearby ideas.

You will leave with: It can use fixed rules, conventional software, machine learning, robotics, or agents. The design determines which tasks are automated, which decisions remain human, how exceptions are handled, and who owns outcomes.
Time: 3–8 min
Before you begin: No prerequisite. Keep one real example in mind.
Do this now: Read the explanation, then compare the example with the common misunderstanding.

Prepared next stepExplore control in agentic workflows

AutomationAutomation is the use of technology to perform part or all of a process with reduced direct human execution.

Agent
Workflow
Human oversight

Plain explanation

It can use fixed rules, conventional software, machine learning, robotics, or agents. The design determines which tasks are automated, which decisions remain human, how exceptions are handled, and who owns outcomes.

Example

A system automatically schedules routine maintenance from sensor thresholds but sends uncertain or costly cases to an engineer.

Why it matters

Automation can improve speed and consistency while shifting work, visibility, control, and error scale. Value and risk must be judged at the process level, not from time saved alone.

Common misunderstanding

Misconception: automation eliminates human work and responsibility. Correction: it often relocates work into design, review, exception handling, monitoring, and recovery.

Related concepts

Follow relationships, not only the alphabet

AgentAn AI agent is a system that continues across steps toward a goal and can select or use actions, tools, or information within defined controls.WorkflowA workflow is an organized sequence of tasks, decisions, handoffs, information, and checks used to produce an outcome.Human oversightHuman oversight is the wider capacity of responsible people and institutions to understand, govern, monitor, challenge, and intervene in an AI system.

Explore control in agentic workflows

Sources and scope

What supports this object

Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework (AI RMF 1.0)U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology

Supports contextual risk, role, impact and oversight analysis for AI-enabled processes; it does not decide whether a particular task should be automated.

Open source

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