Definition
RPA (Robotic Process Automation) is software that mimics human actions to automate repetitive, rule-based tasks. RPA bots click buttons, fill forms, copy data between systems, and follow predefined rules. Unlike AI agents, RPA cannot handle exceptions, learn from outcomes, or adapt to new situations.
Example
An RPA bot logs into a portal, downloads a report, copies data from the report into a spreadsheet, and emails the spreadsheet to a manager, following the exact same steps every time.
Why it matters
RPA is being replaced by AI agents for most use cases. Gartner predicts that by 2028, 33% of enterprise software will include agentic AI capabilities, up from less than 1%. The shift from RPA to agentic automation is happening now.