What is the difference between automation, an AI assistant and an AI agent?
Traditional automation carries out predefined steps according to fixed rules. An AI assistant works with text and context, prepares responses or supporting material, and usually waits for a person’s instruction. An AI agent can plan and carry out several steps towards a goal, but it must have clearly defined tools, permissions, checkpoints and situations that it passes to a person.
When to use each option
Automation is best for a stable, predictable procedure. An AI assistant helps where information from varied inputs needs to be found, summarised or turned into a draft. An agent makes sense where the system should independently select and carry out several permitted steps.
In practice, they are combined
AI can understand an email, traditional automation can check the required fields and enter the data into the system, and a person can approve non-standard terms. A good design does not use AI everywhere; it gives each part the right type of work.
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