Automation
Technology taking over repetitive work — and making whatever process it replaces go much, much faster.
Automation is the use of technology to perform tasks without manual effort. It ranges from simple rule-based scripts that handle a single repetitive step, to robotic process automation that strings multiple steps together, to AI-assisted workflows that handle variation and unstructured inputs. What all forms share is the same basic logic: define what needs to happen, and let the system do it at scale without a person executing each instance.
Automation makes processes faster — including their flaws. A manual process with inconsistent steps, missing judgment points, or broken logic becomes a faster, higher-volume broken process once automated. This is why the most important governance question isn't "can we automate this?" but "is this process worth automating as-is?" Leaders who require a process review before any automation begins consistently get better outcomes than those who treat automation as a speed upgrade on whatever workflow already exists.
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Intelligent Automation
Automation that can handle variation, judgment, and unstructured inputs — not just the cases that follow the rules.
Generative AIAI Copilots
An AI that works alongside the human — suggesting, drafting, and accelerating — while the human stays accountable for the result.
Generative AIAI Agents
AI agents are systems that use AI to plan steps, use tools, make decisions, or take actions toward a goal with varying levels of autonomy. The term is often used broadly, so leaders should ask exactly what the agent can do, what tools it can access, and when humans approve actions.
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Automation
Technology taking over repetitive work — and making whatever process it replaces go much, much faster.
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