As we’ve tracked the adoption of AI/ML across industries the application that always seems to lead is RPA (Robotic Process A…, sometimes also referred to as IA (Intelligent Automation). The problem with giving credit for AI/ML adoption to RPA is that RPA historically has meant robotic process simplification. That is, processes were indeed automated but it was all rules based; no real AI/ML in sight.
This graphic from a 2017 Everest Group report does a good job of contrasting the difference (although here Everest labels IA as artificial intelligence (AI)).