AI dictionary for work
Automation
A repeatable workflow that runs with less manual effort.
What it means
Automation turns a task you do by hand into a repeatable process — triggered by an event or a schedule — so it happens with little or no manual work each time.
Why it matters at work
The best first automations are frequent, low-risk, and well understood: tidying incoming form data, drafting standard replies, generating a weekly report from fixed inputs.
Beginner mistake
Automating a messy or unclear process. Automation amplifies whatever it runs — including the mistakes.
Example prompt
Here is how I currently handle new sign-ups, step by step. Which steps are repeatable and safe to automate, and which still need a human?
Last updated 2026-06-16 · Reviewed for current AI tools