Every automation starts with the same question: which work is repetitive enough that software should do it for you? Before you open any tool, it helps to know what automation actually is, how a workflow is put together, and where AI fits in.
A workflow is a chain of steps. A trigger starts it, one or more actions follow, and conditions decide which path the data takes. Tools like Zapier and n8n let you build these chains visually, without code. AI adds a new layer: a language model can be one step inside a fixed workflow, or, as an AI agent, it can decide for itself which steps to take next.
Knowing the difference between a predictable workflow and a flexible agent is the most useful idea in this course, because it decides how you design everything that follows. Watch the lessons in order, then continue on to APIs, Webhooks & JSON.
What automation is, the core concepts behind it, what a workflow is, and best practices to follow as you start building.
A beginner walkthrough of how Zapier connects the apps you already use, showing how triggers and actions combine into a working automation without code.
A jargon-free path from LLMs to AI workflows to AI agents, and what changes when an AI replaces the human decision-maker in a workflow.
IBM Technology explores how AI agents evolved and the role they play in modern AI systems, a useful companion for judging when a task needs an agent.