Both automated workflows and AI agents carry out sequences of actions to reach a result, but the underlying logic differs profoundly: one follows a predefined path, the other works out dynamically which path suits the situation.
How an automated workflow works
A traditional workflow is a fixed sequence of steps defined in advance: if A happens, do B, then C. It is predictable and dependable for situations that always repeat identically, but rigid in the face of variations that were not anticipated at design time.
How an autonomous AI agent works
An AI agent instead assesses the specific situation and decides dynamically which steps to take and in what order, adapting to variations nobody foresaw. That flexibility is an advantage in variable situations, but it also brings less predictability than a fixed workflow.
When each is the better choice
For repetitive processes that are always the same — producing an invoice from a confirmed order — an automated workflow remains the more reliable and cheaper option. For situations calling for interpretation and adaptation — answering a customer enquiry phrased unpredictably — an AI agent offers value a rigid workflow cannot match.