Technologycalendar_todayLast updated: Apr 2026
What is Automation?
/ˌɔːtəˈmeɪʃən/
Automation is the use of technology to perform tasks with minimal human involvement — replacing repetitive, rule-based human labour with machines, software, or AI.
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Everyday Example
An email autoresponder that sends a welcome message when someone signs up, or a factory robot that welds car parts 24/7 without breaks, are both forms of automation.
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“Amazon's fulfilment warehouses use tens of thousands of robots to sort, pack, and move products. These robots have reduced order fulfilment times from hours to minutes.”
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Did you know?
The first industrial automation revolution was the water-powered loom in the 1780s. The second was electricity and assembly lines. We are now in the third: software and AI.
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Key Insight
Automation doesn't just destroy jobs — it historically creates new categories of work. But the transition period causes genuine economic disruption, particularly for lower-skilled workers.
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