TL;DR:
- Automat, previously known as Lasso, is an AI-driven system developed by Lucas Ochoa and Gautam Bose.
- It translates video or text descriptions into software automation workflows.
- Automat offers both unattended and attended automation solutions.
- The platform integrates with third-party apps like HubSpot and Salesforce.
- It is up to 10x faster and 1/10th the cost of competitors in workflow automation.
- Automat recently secured $3.75 million in funding for expansion.
Main AI News:
Lucas Ochoa and Gautam Bose, a dynamic duo recruited straight out of college by Google Creative Lab, Google’s tech and culture incubator, have an impressive track record of launching innovative products such as the AI Test Kitchen, Teachable Machine, and Google Pixel Buds Pro during their three-and-a-half-year tenure. In early 2020, their mission was to explore consumer applications for Google’s powerful LaMDA large language model. Their team diligently crafted over 50 prototypes, seamlessly integrating LaMDA into various Google apps and services.
However, their journey with LaMDA led them to a profound realization – the world of enterprise automation was shackled by outdated tools encumbered with hefty licensing fees. Furthermore, tools tailored for “citizen developers” often proved needlessly complex. Ochoa and Bose eloquently expressed this sentiment in an email interview with TechCrunch, stating, “The industry’s primary challenge lies in harnessing the transformative potential of generative AI and identifying the most user-friendly AI-driven automation methods.”
Inspired by robotics techniques leveraging large language models like LaMDA to translate instructions into tangible actions, Ochoa and Bose gave birth to an ingenious AI system called Lasso. This system, now rebranded as Automat, possesses the remarkable capability to dissect a workflow recording into a series of step-by-step instructions. More impressively, it employs AI to decipher the meaning behind these instructions, effectively executing tasks on behalf of the user.
Automat boasts the prowess to automate a wide array of PC workflows, ranging from insurance claims processing to the simplification of construction permit submissions and trade license applications. By harnessing the power of AI and seamlessly integrating with third-party applications such as HubSpot and Salesforce, this platform excels at document parsing, inventory management, and even handling text messages and emails.
Automat comes in two distinct flavors – unattended and attended. The unattended version operates seamlessly in the cloud, requiring no human oversight, while the attended version serves as a helpful “copilot” alongside users, facilitating repetitive tasks.
In their own words, Ochoa and Bose succinctly describe Automat’s mission: “Automat takes care of the mundane, repetitive, and monotonous tasks that hinder business scalability. We collaborate with executives and engineers seeking to optimize their operations or leverage automation for groundbreaking product offerings.”
However, it’s crucial to dispel any magical expectations – Automat doesn’t instantaneously or automatically transform videos into automations. Customers must submit a video or description of their desired automated process to the Automat team, a process that may take several days to complete.
Automat may not be the pioneer in the realm of video-to-workflow conversion tools. Several established players in robotic process automation (RPA), including MuleSoft, Microsoft (Power Automate), and ServiceNow, offer similar solutions. Nonetheless, Ochoa and Bose proudly assert that Automat outpaces the competition, boasting speeds up to ten times faster and pricing that’s a mere fraction of traditional workflow automation solutions.
“The industry giants, such as UI path, Intelligent Automation, and Blue Prism, follow a different path. Instead of cumbersome low-code tools or proprietary programming frameworks, we offer robust automations rooted in simplicity,” they emphasize. “For companies striving to scale affordably and eliminate time-consuming tasks, Automat is the answer.”
With a successful pilot program under its belt, Automat has commenced partnerships with its inaugural group of paying customers, spanning small- to medium-sized businesses and large-scale enterprises.
To propel the platform’s growth, Automat recently secured $3.75 million in funding from Initialized Capital and Khosla Ventures through an equity financing round. This financial injection will bolster the launch of Automat’s Sandbox feature, facilitating workflow management and providing access to new standalone document and image data extraction APIs. A portion of the funds will also support the expansion of Automat’s workforce, growing from three full-time employees and approximately a dozen contractors.
Ochoa and Bose assert, “We’re deploying this funding to expand our engineering team and actively recruiting individuals with machine learning expertise. Our decision to seek investment stems from early traction and strong demand from our customers. With this boost, we’re assembling a lean technical team poised to handle customer implementations and pursue an ambitious R&D roadmap.”
This funding round arrives at an opportune moment. The market for Robotic Process Automation (RPA), a technology designed to automate mundane enterprise tasks, appears to be stabilizing after a period of stagnation and decline. According to Forrester’s research, the RPA market is projected to reach approximately $16 billion by 2025.
Conclusion:
Automat’s innovative approach to workflow automation, utilizing AI to translate videos into streamlined processes, promises significant disruption in the market. With its speed and affordability, it has the potential to empower businesses of all sizes to optimize operations and focus on strategic growth. This technology aligns with the industry trend of embracing automation, and its recent funding injection underscores strong market interest and potential for further growth.
