Core Concept • 2018
Smart Automation
Technology combining AI, big data, and autonomous systems to exceed human capabilities in specific domains while raising critical questions about ethics, society, and human agency.
Status
Used Extensively
Year Introduced
2018
Domain
AI & Technology
Series Coverage
9-Part Series
Understanding Smart Automation
Smart Automation represents the convergence of artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and autonomous systems designed to perform tasks that exceed human capabilities in specific domains. Unlike traditional automation that follows rigid programming, smart automation adapts to changing conditions, learns from experience, and makes decisions in complex environments.
Joseph Byrum’s 9-part Understanding Smart Technology series systematically examines smart automation through the lens of “known knowns” and “unknown knowns”—exploring what we understand about these systems, what we think we understand but don’t, and the dangers that emerge from gaps in our knowledge.
The series addresses fundamental questions: How do smart systems differ from human intelligence? What are the societal implications of widespread automation? And critically, what ethical guidelines should govern the development and deployment of systems that can surpass human performance? These considerations inform the broader Intelligent Enterprise framework.
Related Articles
Publications from the Understanding Smart Technology series
INFORMS Analytics • Part 1
The Known Knowns of Smart Automation
Foundation for understanding what we know about smart automation systems.
INFORMS Analytics • Part 8
Smart Automation Impact on Society
Analysis of societal implications as smart automation becomes pervasive.
INFORMS Analytics • Part 9
Ethical Guidelines For Smart Automation
Framework for developing and deploying smart automation responsibly.
INFORMS Analytics • Part 7
Smart Machine Dangers Unknown Knowns
Examining hidden risks in smart automation that we overlook.
INFORMS Analytics
The Direction of Smart Automation
Strategic outlook on where smart automation technology is heading.
Consilience AI
The Intelligence Paradox: Why Smarter AI Needs Different Metrics
How we measure machine intelligence and why current approaches fall short.
Related Course
Understanding Smart Technology
9-part series exploring smart automation in depth
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Smart Automation?
Smart Automation is technology that combines artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and autonomous systems to perform tasks that exceed human capabilities in specific domains. Unlike traditional automation that follows rigid rules, smart automation can adapt, learn, and make decisions in complex, changing environments.
How does Smart Automation differ from traditional automation?
Traditional automation executes pre-programmed sequences without deviation—if-then rules applied consistently. Smart automation, by contrast, incorporates machine learning to adapt behavior based on new data, handles unexpected situations through reasoning, and can improve performance over time without explicit reprogramming.
What are the “unknown knowns” of smart automation?
“Unknown knowns” are things we know but don’t realize we know—blind spots in our understanding of smart systems. Joseph Byrum’s series explores these hidden assumptions: for example, we know machines are deterministic (producing the same output given the same input) but often forget this when expecting human-like flexibility from AI systems.
What ethical guidelines apply to smart automation?
The Understanding Smart Technology series concludes with ethical guidelines covering transparency (systems should be explainable), accountability (clear responsibility for automated decisions), fairness (avoiding algorithmic bias), human agency (maintaining human control over critical decisions), and safety (preventing harm through rigorous testing and fail-safes).
How does smart automation impact society?
Smart automation’s societal impact spans workforce transformation (changing job requirements rather than simply eliminating jobs), economic restructuring (new business models and value creation), decision-making shifts (algorithmic influence on daily choices), and questions of autonomy and agency. The series examines both opportunities and risks that require proactive governance.
Explore Joseph Byrum’s complete body of work on AI strategy and technological transformation.