Beyond the Bot Ep. 10: Common Myths About Automation

Tony and Steven for Beyond the Bot Episode 10

In this episode of Beyond the Bot, Tony DeHart and Steven King dive deep into the most persistent myths surrounding automation and its role in modern business. From fears about job loss to misconceptions about cost, customization, and control, they bring clarity, nuance, and plenty of practical insight. Whether you're a small business owner exploring automation for the first time or a seasoned executive looking to scale operations, this conversation highlights how AI and robotics are becoming essential—not optional—in today’s competitive landscape.

As always, the discussion is grounded in real-world experience and delivered with the signature warmth and clarity that Beyond the Bot fans have come to expect.

Transcript:

Tony DeHart: Hello and welcome to another exciting episode of Beyond the Bot. I'm Tony.

Steven King: And I'm Steven.

Tony DeHart: We're here in the Blue Sky Lab, where we love bringing you insights on AI and automation every week—and what it means for your business. Today we're going to be talking about some of the top myths around automation, providing context and debunking common misconceptions. Let's jump right into it. One of the most common myths we encounter is: "Why fix what ain't broke? Our manual process is working fine—we don't need automation." Steven, what do you say when folks bring that up?

Steven King: Well, things that have worked for a long time are certainly helpful, but in today’s changing economy, people are trying to get the most out of every product, every moment, every minute. Saving even a few seconds here and there ultimately helps margins. It improves business outcomes and enhances the human experience, too. A lot of jobs out there are repetitive, even painful—think tasks that hurt your thumb every time you do them. If a robot can take over that part, and you can move that person to something more engaging, you've just made a better work environment.

Tony DeHart: Right. A lot of times, a successful deployment reveals inefficiencies people didn't even know were there because they didn't know what was possible.

Steven King: Exactly. We often hear, "We’ve always done it this way." But that doesn't mean it's the most efficient way. Sometimes it’s about tweaking a small human motion. Other times it’s about repositioning a robot. We always look at the whole picture to find the most efficient solution.

Tony DeHart: And even if you have superstar employees doing things at an extremely high level, that's still dependent on that one person—you can't scale that.

Steven King: That’s right. Many companies are struggling with labor—retaining it, training it, even just having enough people show up. Automation can bring consistency. Your line doesn’t have to stop just because a particular person didn’t come in that day. And if your manual process is already working well, it's often easier to automate because you’ve already solved the hardest problems.

Tony DeHart: Speaking of labor, another big myth we hear is that automation is going to steal everybody's job. That robots are coming to replace you.

Steven King: Science fiction definitely feeds that fear. Sure, some roles are being replaced by automation, but most people we work with are looking for consistency. They turn to automation because they can’t find people to do the job. Labor savings is part of the ROI, no doubt—but if you’re running your company well, you’re repurposing those folks. You’re opening new markets, launching new products, and putting people in more creative, fulfilling roles.

Tony DeHart: This fear shows up in every tech revolution—from the Industrial Revolution to the Internet. People fear job loss, but in reality, we always see new categories of jobs emerge.

Steven King: Jobs change, evolve. They don’t disappear—they move.

Tony DeHart: Another myth: "Our process isn't a good fit for automation—it’s too unpredictable, too custom, too high-mix, low-volume."

Steven King: That might have been true historically, especially with rigid automation systems. But today, AI allows us to make decisions on the fly. Robots can now adapt to objects being slightly off. Our approach is human-centered: we analyze the full process, all the decisions a human makes, and determine how software can help the robot adapt.

Tony DeHart: AI is the brain behind the hardware. The arms may look the same, but what’s under the hood is radically different.

Steven King: Exactly. Graphics cards process images to understand the environment. The robot now sees the object, waits for it, and moves it—rather than blindly following coordinates.

Tony DeHart: Another myth we hear: "Automation is only for big companies—it’s too expensive for small businesses."

Steven King: That’s outdated. Robotic arms can now cost less than $10,000. Pair that with customizable, user-friendly software and you don’t need to hire a roboticist. Plus, with Robotics-as-a-Service models, small businesses can access automation with manageable monthly fees.

Tony DeHart: And mistakes are much costlier for small businesses than large ones. Computer vision and quality control systems can prevent those expensive errors.

Steven King: Absolutely. Automation can save a ton of money and level the playing field.

Tony DeHart: Then there's the myth that automation means losing control of your process.

Steven King: Quite the opposite. With AI, you get auditable trails and real-time insights. You can tweak your product line in hours instead of months. It's about enhancing control, not losing it.

Tony DeHart: Imagine every frontline worker documenting every move—impossible, right? But with automation, you get that kind of data automatically.

Steven King: Which leads to the next myth: "We can’t automate—we don’t have the skills."

Tony DeHart: Like you said earlier, it's like shipping. You don’t need to understand every part of FedEx’s logistics—just how to put a label on and get the box shipped.

Steven King: Exactly. If you know your inputs and outputs, a good automation partner handles the rest. You don’t need a roboticist on staff.

Tony DeHart: And that partner isn’t just a vendor—it’s a long-term collaborator.

Steven King: Right. As your business evolves, your automation should too. That’s why we develop using open standards like Python—so you’re never locked in.

Tony DeHart: People also worry this tech is too new or untested.

Steven King: But this isn’t new anymore. The big players are doing it, and now it’s filtering down. The longer you wait, the more behind you fall.

Tony DeHart: Others say, "Won’t it be obsolete in a year?"

Steven King: If built right, your system can evolve with updates and component swaps. It’s about long-term flexibility.

Tony DeHart: And the final myth: "Automation is a fad."

Steven King: It's a trend, not a fad. We see heavy investment and sustained value. This is table stakes now—essential for staying competitive.

Tony DeHart: Absolutely. Thanks for helping us break down some of these automation myths, Steven.

Steven King: Always a pleasure.

Tony DeHart: Thank you all for joining us. We’ll be back next week with more automation insights from Beyond the Bot.