Automate tasks that are repetitive, rule-based, high-volume, and low-risk if an error occurs — such as data entry, invoice generation, appointment reminders, and report formatting.

Augmenting means keeping a human in the loop while AI accelerates or improves the work — such as drafting emails for human review, AI-assisted research, or flagging anomalies for a manager to decide on.

Avoid automating tasks that require emotional intelligence, complex ethical judgment, novel problem-solving, or where errors carry high legal, financial, or reputational risk.

Start by mapping your workflows into three buckets: tasks that are repetitive and rule-based (automate), tasks that benefit from AI assistance but need human judgment (augment), and tasks where human expertise is irreplaceable (avoid).

Yes. The AI Placement Framework was built with Canadian SMBs in mind — accounting for PIPEDA compliance, Canadian data residency requirements, and the practical realities of small teams with limited IT resources.

AI automation replaces human action entirely for a task. AI augmentation keeps the human in control while AI handles speed, scale, or analysis. Most businesses benefit from a mix of both.