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AI Agent vs Automation vs Chatbot: One Job, Three Ways

Step-by-step guide7 slidesChatGPT

By Robert Breen · Published · From the free lesson AI Agent vs Chatbot vs Automation: One Job Done Three Ways

A visual guide to the difference between a chatbot, an automation and an AI agent, shown by chasing six unpaid invoices three ways in one free lesson.

  1. AI basics. Agent, automation or chatbot? One job, three ways. Chasing six unpaid invoices for a small business. One customer already paid half, and that detail separates the three.
    Slide 1 of 7
  2. Step 1. A chatbot answers when you ask. In Chat mode ChatGPT writes a reminder template full of blanks like Customer Name and Amount. You still find who is overdue, fill it in and send each one. Screenshot: ChatGPT in Chat mode with a payment reminder template full of blanks.
    Slide 2 of 7
  3. Step 2. An automation follows fixed rules. A trigger and an action run the same way every time. It never uses judgment, so the customer who already paid half is reminded for the full amount. Screenshot: An automation with a When trigger and a Do action, and a run history that reminded every overdue customer.
    Slide 3 of 7
  4. Step 3. An agent gets a goal. In ChatGPT’s Work mode the agent reads the list, does the date math, drafts the reminders unsent and flags the partial payment for a person to decide. Screenshot: ChatGPT Work showing Worked for 1m 12s opened to the five steps it took.
    Slide 4 of 7
  5. Step 4. Write the task like a note to a coworker. Include the goal, the information it needs, the judgment calls you want it to make and hard limits, such as don’t send anything. Then check names, numbers and dates. Screenshot: The Work with ChatGPT box filled with a task, a flag rule and Don’t send anything.
    Slide 5 of 7
  6. Step 5. Pick by the job. Chatbot: you want an answer or a draft. Automation: the job is the same every time. Agent: the job needs a little thinking along the way. Screenshot: A cheat sheet comparing a chatbot, an automation and an AI agent.
    Slide 6 of 7
  7. See all three side by side, free. Lesson: AI agent vs chatbot vs automation, about 7 minutes. Free at learn.ynteractive.com.
    Slide 7 of 7

Swipe or scroll sideways for all 7 slides. The whole guide is written out below.

The guide in text

Chasing six unpaid invoices for a small business. One customer already paid half, and that detail separates the three.

Step by step

  1. A chatbot answers when you ask

    In Chat mode ChatGPT writes a reminder template full of blanks like Customer Name and Amount. You still find who is overdue, fill it in and send each one.

  2. An automation follows fixed rules

    A trigger and an action run the same way every time. It never uses judgment, so the customer who already paid half is reminded for the full amount.

  3. An agent gets a goal

    In ChatGPT’s Work mode the agent reads the list, does the date math, drafts the reminders unsent and flags the partial payment for a person to decide.

  4. Write the task like a note to a coworker

    Include the goal, the information it needs, the judgment calls you want it to make and hard limits, such as don’t send anything. Then check names, numbers and dates.

  5. Pick by the job

    Chatbot: you want an answer or a draft. Automation: the job is the same every time. Agent: the job needs a little thinking along the way.

Businesses and people in the examples are made up (Oak Hill Pet Grooming is a made-up business). The steps, screens and wording come from the free lesson and the Stepthrough glossary and prompt library.

Do it yourself, free

AI Agent vs Chatbot vs Automation: One Job Done Three Ways. Chase six unpaid invoices three ways: a chatbot writes a template, an automation follows a rule, and an AI agent works out the steps and flags the tricky one. You do every step yourself in a practice copy of ChatGPT, it checks your work as you go, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on. Free, and nothing touches your real accounts.

Start the free lesson

Or read the full step-by-step guide

Plain-English definitions, each with an example from a free lesson.

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The full AI glossary

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