Robotic Process Automation (RPA): Closer to a Rules Engine than to Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is software that can automate repetitive processing tasks that human staff members often need to do when interacting with a graphical user interface. The types of tasks that are typically automated include things like handling customer questions, processing files, data entry, and migration of data. By some estimates, the RPA market is expected to hit $5 billion by 2024. At the heart of RPA is a type of artificial intelligence (AI), albeit typically these apps are often borderline in their use of cutting-edge AI techniques like machine learning. Anthony Schofield, global operations transformation leader at auditing firm Deloitte, said that "AI is one part of the entire spectrum of new technology tools, ranging from automation to robotic process automation (RPA) to cognitive tools and machine learning. Usually, each gets mixed up and interchanged, but they are a bunch of different technologies that can speed up and replace the decisions for human interaction. AI is at the high end of the spectrum and at the other end is RPA."