Automation Fails: Why Not Everything Should Be Automated

Automation is all the rage. Current trends suggest it's here to stay. The technology can make tedious and time-consuming tasks easier and use AI to learn independently. However, while automation and machine learning evolve at unprecedented speeds, automation can only happen with proper oversight.

The thing about automation is that it requires human input at some point. And just like humans, it can make mistakes, which is why humans are still needed to oversee the process to avoid automation disasters.

Why? Computers can't judge the quality of their outputs—at least, not yet—so it's crucial to have skilled human teams to help train the models and fine-tune the results.

Here are some examples of why automation (and AI) shouldn't be the go-to solution for every situation, especially in business...

AI-generated advertisements

AI imaging platforms like OpenAI's DALL-E are advanced and can make great images with simple text prompts. You can use AI to create ads and even the people that appear in ads, but beware—the results aren't always perfect.

Here's a fashion model I prompted for an ad for my fictitious fashion company. I used NightCafe Creator, based on a Stable Diffusion model. As you can see, this output has some imperfections, such as the two necks.

The AI doesn't know that multiple necks differ from what you want. It would be best to use humans to ensure optimal results before spending money on an ad. (AI is also notoriously bad at rendering hands, so check those artificially generated appendages closely.)

Either way, you will need a creative team to examine AI images for flaws and use graphic design skills for impactful ad layouts and text additions.

Complex blog strategy will still be human, but AI can help with volume

While there are advanced image generators, AI can now also write entire articles using simple input. This is very exciting for most Content Managers. With a great strategy and clear prompts, generative AI will be like having dozens of writers in the room. It can also cover many different topics, whereas a writer might be more comfortable in one area over another.

Platforms such as ChatGPT (also from OpenAI) are making headlines for writing everything from how-to guides to poetry—using an artificial neural network. It can also handle some customer service functions, powering chatbots as a first line of communication with your clients.

Here's an excerpt of a blog post I made with ChatGPT Playground (a user-friendly interface) using the prompt: "blog post about how human writers are smarter than AI":

In the end, AI writers can help create straightforward content. However, human writers are still much better at making exciting stories, making you think, and having meaning. AI writers need to gain human writers' creativity, understanding, and critical thinking skills. This means that human writers can create much more exciting and powerful content.

I couldn't have said it better myself. But rest assured. AI is still valuable for content writers, managers, and marketers. They can help with a strong base or even create good technical pieces.

You will likely still need human writers/editors to check over the generated results. While an algorithm can pull together a business blog post, it doesn't mean the generated words communicate what you want them to. It will be a helpful research tool for any topic. A human can then come in to edit, make sure the piece is "on brand", and then analyze the results of each piece.

Trusting the language processor fully is a good way to experience automation nightmares. However, the results can be used as a solid base to create the finished product—complete with proper formatting, images, and authoritative links.

Automation fails: User experience tests

Commonly known as UX, it significantly influences how your online visitors experience your website and other customer touchpoints. While you can use a machine to test your site's usability, you shouldn't.

That's because UX is a uniquely human experience. So instead of only running automated tests to see if your digital assets run smoothly, use human teams to tell you if your site is easy to navigate.

Ultimately, you want humans to use your platforms, so we must tailor them to the users. If your online experience could be better, you may lose potential customers before they get to the checkout.

One-time/limited executions

While Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is great for speeding up repetitive tasks, you probably shouldn't use it to run a unique process. Automation fails are all too common when you believe it's one-size-fits-all. You still require expertise to properly get the most our of automation.

RPA is programmed to complete a specific action or workflow. Still, because it's narrow in scope, it could mess up the output when introducing new elements. A person must change the workflow if it needs to be changed and ensure that the automation is giving the most accurate results.

Here's an additional point when not to use automation, courtesy of ChatGPT:

Another vital factor to consider is whether automation is cost-effective. Automation can be expensive to set up; if you're only running a few processes, it may not be worth the cost.

Make automation Wrk for you

You can avoid automation fails by choosing a platform like Wrk that uses a hybrid delivery platform. That means in addition to our automated Wrfklows. You'll also benefit from our human teams to ensure the best results for your business.

Learn how we can help you avoid automation disasters by starting a free trial.