Is It Really AI, or Just Automation?

Is It Really AI, or Just Automation?

Not every automated registry function is actually artificial intelligence. Some systems use rule-based automation, meaning they follow predefined instructions such as “if this condition is present, perform this action.” These systems can be highly useful and efficient, but they do not learn from data.

Machine learning differs because the system identifies patterns from training data rather than relying only on explicitly programmed rules. Deep-learning and transformer models can identify more complex relationships, while generative AI and large language models can create new text or structured responses based on patterns they have learned.

A cancer registry solution may combine several of these approaches. For example, one part of the workflow may use rules to route cases, another may use NLP or machine learning to identify reportable cancer information, and another may use generative AI to summarize clinical documentation.

For the ODS, the important question is not simply, “Does this system use AI?”

It is:
What technology is being used for this specific task and what does that technology actually do?

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