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Artificial Intelligence is everywhere — or at least, that’s what the marketing folks would have you believe. But is every “smart” product really intelligent, or just a glorified Rube Goldberg machine with better branding? So I thought it would be a good idea to separate the true AI capabilities from the smoke-and-mirrors of automation. That’s coming up next – Right here on Fletch.TV.
Today we’ll be talking about AI versus Automation — how to tell the difference, why it matters, and how not to get hoodwinked by a slick sales pitch.
Artificial Intelligence: The New Must-Have Accessory
Right now, AI is the avocado toast of the tech world. Every software company, hardware vendor, and yes—even bloggers like me—just have to drop the “AI” word somewhere or risk sounding out of touch.
What I fail to understand, though, is the recent explosion of AI awareness by nearly everyone. Suddenly, my neighbor’s cousin knows more about ChatGPT than about the proper way to grill a burger.
I was making lunch plans for Friday with Fellow telecom consulting professional Jim Bell, when this came up in the discussion; I said to Jim, “you know this would make a pretty good blog”, and that made it otherwise boring, Post holiday weekend, Tuesday afternoon, creative, and exciting.
Here’s the catch: when you really look at what many companies are calling AI, you have to wonder if they even understand what it is. More importantly—if you’re on the purchasing side—you better know what it ISN’T.
What AI Is NOT
Let’s clear the air first. AI is not just automation in a shiny wrapper.
- AI is not an ordered list of tasks performed in sequence. That’s just workflow. And it’s been around forever.
- AI does not contain IF/THEN/ELSE/OR logic. That’s a script, and I’ve written enough of those to know the difference.
- AI doesn’t just “automatically do things.” That’s macros and triggers, folks.
Calling those things AI is like putting a Lamborghini body on a Ford fiesta chassis, and heading to the races.
What AI Actually Does (When It’s the Real Deal)
Here’s where the real definition comes in — and why AI is more than just marketing gloss. Here are 12 indicators I would use to define AI
- Ability to Learn from Data
- Think of it like a rookie dispatcher who gets better after every call, except the AI never forgets the training.
- Ability to Reason & Problem-Solve
- Unlike a flowchart, AI can make inferences when there isn’t a perfect script to follow.
- Perception
- Ability to use Facial recognition, voice-to-text, object detection — it’s the “senses” of the digital world.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP)
- That’s how your voice assistant understands “Call Mom” and doesn’t just dial “Maureen from Accounting.”
- Pattern Recognition
- Spotting fraud, finding that one weird anomaly in a sea of data. Basically the “Where’s Waldo” champion of computing.
- Prediction & Forecasting
- Think weather forecasting, but also predicting when your telecom gear is about to quit.
- Adaptation
- Like a self-driving car rerouting when a deer decides to test its brakes.
- Autonomous Action
- Operating drones, robots, or handling tasks without a babysitter.
- Optimization
- Finding the fastest route for a firetruck through Friday night traffic.
- Creativity & Generation
- Writing stories, making images, even composing music (and sometimes, yes, making it weird).
- Generalization
- Applying what it learns in one area to another. Like recognizing that lions are just big cats (but not the kind you want in your living room).
- Interaction & Collaboration
- Working with humans as co-pilots, not just tools. Like decision support systems in medicine—or Public Safety.
Why This Matters in Public Safety
If you’re evaluating tools for your PSAP or enterprise, don’t let anyone sell you “automation with a lipstick filter” as real AI. Automation has its place — it’s reliable, fast, and perfect for repetitive tasks. But AI? That’s what brings adaptability, prediction, and a level of intelligence that can actually change outcomes.
If someone wants to sell you their AI solution, ask them to explain it to you. If their answer boils down to “it follows a set of rules,” congratulations—you just spotted automation in AI’s Halloween costume.
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Thanks for spending time with me; I look forward to next time. Stay safe and take care.
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