What Is the Difference Between Robotic Process Automation and AI?
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The world of digital automation is growing faster and larger than ever. About 44.2% of internet users regularly interact with some form of voice assistant. With this field growing in this way, it is important to know the inside details about the process.
Knowing the differences between robotic process automation and artificial intelligence is a detail you should know. RPA and AI are often confused but have fundamental and important differences. Let’s take a look at these right now.
What Is Robotic Process Automation?
Robotic process automation involves programs designed to repeat a specific task over and over again. They essentially follow the rules they are given in order to do what they are asked to do.
This often includes tasks like transferring data or inputting information. Anything that involves repeatedly moving electronic information or performing a routine task can fall under this umbrella.
This is often used for tabulating the results of surveys. For example, you can create a form for customers to fill out regarding their experience with your business. An RPA can then extract the information from each form and combine it together into a single, easy-to-read document.
When thinking about what robotic process automation can do, the word “robotic” gives a clue. If it feels like a task that an unthinking robot could perform, then there is a good chance this task can be automated by this process.
Benefits of RPA
Robotics process automation can be a great solution in situations where simple but time-consuming tasks are abundant. Many jobs dealing with computers will have at least one job like this available.
These programs can complete these jobs simply and effortlessly. In the case of transferring information from a form, it doesn’t matter how many times you need data extracted, the robotic automation process will accomplish it with ease.
The advantage here is that you are not wasting manpower on a task that can be easily automated. With technology today, it does not make sense to waste human intelligence on activities like these.
Plus, a program does not have human weaknesses. It can work all day without getting tired. It also avoids human error from impacting the work.
This saves the employee from a monotonous job and saves the employer from having to hire additional workers. It also allows employers to direct human intelligence elsewhere. This can help all parties involved.
The disadvantage here is that RPA is limited to relatively simple jobs. Tasks that require more nuance will need a more robust tool.
What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial intelligence is a more robust approach for automating tasks. It is similar to RPA in that it accomplishes a task. However, AI is more advanced and can “think” in ways that RPA cannot.
This mostly comes from the way in which AI is able to “learn” and respond to the results of information. If you train an AI to respond in a certain way to certain ranges of data, it can produce this response even if the situation changes.
AI examples range from everyday digital assistants to entire facial recognition networks. The possibilities are vast because programs like these can be designed in a multitude of different ways.
For example, an AI program could be given a range of artwork along with the value of each piece of art. After examining the common elements in the pieces that are worth more money, the AI could gain a grasp of how to value art. This program could then be used to price other pieces of art.
Some artificial intelligence companies create programs that examine data and derive actionable insights from this data. With these insights, companies can make changes that will allow them to be more efficient and, thus, more profitable.
This is part of the reason AI has become such a buzzword in recent years. Humanity has only recently discovered all the potential that exists within this world.
Benefits of AI
There are plenty of benefits provided by artificial intelligence. You simply need to imagine the possibilities that are present.
Many of these benefits revolve around examining information. An AI program can pick up on trends that humans may miss entirely. This can reduce the degree of human error in analysis or even push beyond what humans are capable of.
As mentioned above, this analysis can also lead to new ideas and insights. A human may be unable to see the ways in which a program or system can be changed, yet an unbiased program may be able to.
Like an RPA program, an AI program can also be used to sort and process data. However, the advanced nature of AI can allow the artificial intelligence to do so in ways that an RPA cannot. This allows it to work with more complex data sets and with data that needs a judgment call rather than strictly robotic reasoning.
Also, like RPA, one of the biggest benefits of AI, in general, is the ability to automate tasks. By automating tasks, companies can reduce the amount of manpower they put toward certain jobs. This allows them to allocate this manpower in a better way.
The Difference Between Robotic Process Automation and AI
RPA and AI have plenty of similarities in the way they automate tasks. However, the limited nature of RPAs and the more responsive nature of AIs set these programs apart. Both still have their functions, but the difference is important to note.
Make sure to contact [redacted] today to see if your business could benefit from these programs.