Are AI workflow tools actually replacing traditional automation or just dressed up the same thing

Been excited about this quite a bit currently. I exploit a mixture of each at work and the extra I dig into it the extra I reckon they're fixing totally different issues. Conventional automation is nice when the duty is predictable, like bill approvals or scheduled reporting, it simply runs and also you don't should babysit it. However I've been taking part in round with a number of the newer AI workflow instruments and the distinction is actual, they really, deal with edge circumstances and adapt when one thing breaks mid-execution as a substitute of simply dying and ready so that you can repair the logic. That's not only a nicer UI, that's a distinct strategy underneath the hood. That mentioned I don't assume it's a straight alternative state of affairs. The reliability of a well-built conventional automation is difficult to beat when the workflow is secure. The place I've seen AI instruments genuinely shine is in messier environments, buyer assist routing, contract evaluation stuff, something the place the inputs differ quite a bit. Curious what others are operating in manufacturing although, are you discovering the AI-based instruments dependable sufficient, to totally belief or do you continue to maintain a human within the loop for many of it?