Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic process automation (RPA) have emerged as convenient solutions for businesses that want to lighten the workload for human employees. If you’re a business leader looking to increase efficiency with automation, you’ve likely heard of both AI and RPA and might wonder how these technologies differ.
For those considering robotic process automation versus AI, here’s what distinguishes each from the other and how they can work in tandem to boost productivity and enhance employee experiences (EX).
What is robotic process automation (RPA)?
RPA software generates bots capable of interacting with applications in the same way that human employees do, according to the Association for Intelligent Information Management (AIIM). These bots can take over manual, repetitive, and rule-based labor. Here are some examples from the AIIM and UiPath.
- Data entry
- Logging into applications
- Copying and pasting information
- Scraping data from websites
- Extracting and processing structured data from documents
- Connecting to APIs
- Opening emails
- Order tracking
RPA can benefit businesses because the bots complete mind-numbing tasks more accurately and at greater speeds while human workers have more time to focus on projects that necessitate creativity and strategic thinking. As UiPath states, “RPA can take the work you hate off your plate.”
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What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
Artificial intelligence simulates human cognition, including learning and reasoning abilities, according to NICE. Subcategories include conversational AI and generative AI. Artificial intelligence solutions can perform various functions, including but not limited to the following:
- Natural language processing
- Text generation
- Image generation
- Customer sentiment analysis
Real-world examples of AI include intelligent chatbots and large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. UiPath notes that “AI robots can make cognitive decisions using large data sets to predict several possible outcomes.”
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Is RPA the same as artificial intelligence?
RPA is not the same as AI. RPA automates simple, repetitive, and rule-based tasks like logging in to a system. AI is a “sibling” of RPA capable of making decisions requiring higher-level cognition and tackling more complicated processes, according to UiPath.
Which is better, AI or RPA?
To fully automate many processes, UiPath notes that you’ll need a combination of RPA and AI. For example, a hospital might rely on RPA to complete initial patient screenings involving simple “yes or no” intake questions. After that, AI can analyze the information from the screenings to flag indicators of conditions like pneumonia and alert healthcare providers.
You should deploy RPA for straightforward labor. UiPath recommends turning to AI for projects that meet these criteria:
- The outcome isn’t always predictable.
- There aren’t clearly defined rules for completing the tasks.
- It involves unstructured data from images, documents, emails, videos, or articles.
Our trusted technology advisors would be happy to help you explore RPA and AI solutions. We have partnerships with leading suppliers as well as access to the latest market data and a tool that generates comprehensive comparison matrices. We do the homework and arrange demos for our clients, saving them dozens of hours and efficiently narrowing their options to the top 3 that align with their needs and goals.
If you want to explore AI for your business but don’t know where to start, we also offer free artificial intelligence assessments to qualifying businesses.
Start your AI journey today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.
