The Future of Passive AI-Driven Business Process Automation (BPA) and Its Impact on Work and Society

By Phil Beresford-Davis

Managing Director, Advisory Nexus

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Introduction: The Next Evolution in BPA

We are entering an era where automation is no longer a tool we actively build—it is a presence that exists, observes, and adapts in real time. The next frontier of Business Process Automation (BPA) is not about manual configuration, complex scripting, or human-initiated workflows. Instead, it is about passive, AI-driven automation that silently learns, optimises, and enhances business operations without human intervention.

Imagine an AI-powered operating system that watches how teams work, identifies inefficiencies, and gradually automates workflows—suggesting improvements only when needed. The leap from today’s rule-based automation to self-evolving, AI-native business orchestration is closer than we think.

This article explores the potential, challenges, and implications of this new age of autonomous process automation and its wider impact on jobs, economies, and society.

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1. The Evolution of BPA: From Active to Passive

Traditional BPA: Human-Driven Automation

Historically, BPA has been about deliberate design. Businesses identify repetitive tasks, map workflows, and use tools like Microsoft Power Automate, UiPath, or ServiceNow to create automation rules. However, this requires technical expertise, ongoing maintenance, and manual oversight.

? Example: An employee manually creates an approval workflow for invoice processing using BPA software. If conditions change, they must update the process rules.

Passive BPA: Automation That Learns by Watching

Passive BPA shifts from a human-led design model to an AI-driven observation model. Instead of requiring employees to configure workflows, AI systems silently monitor workplace activities, detect inefficiencies, and gradually introduce automated solutions without explicit programming.

? Example: The system detects that multiple employees spend hours manually approving invoices. It automatically suggests and implements an approval workflow, learning over time which exceptions require human review.

The key difference? The AI does not wait for permission to automate—it anticipates and adapts.

Kryon Pioneered This Approach

A few years ago, Kryon demonstrated the potential of AI-driven process discovery—automatically identifying repetitive workflows across an organisation and recommending automation. Kryon’s Full-Cycle Automation Suite was one of the first platforms to showcase how process mining and AI could create automation recommendations without human input. This set the stage for today’s Passive BPA innovations, where AI not only suggests optimisations but also executes them autonomously.

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2. The Impact on Jobs: A Workforce Transformed

As Passive AI-driven BPA advances, what happens to the people whose tasks it automates?

Projected Job Losses Due to AI and BPA

Studies suggest that by 2035, automation and AI could replace between 20% to 30% of jobs globally, with some industries experiencing even higher impacts. The most affected sectors include:

? Administrative and back-office roles (data entry, customer support, HR processing)

? Manufacturing and logistics (warehouse jobs, supply chain management, quality control)

? Retail and service industry roles (cashiers, order processing, hospitality services)

? Transportation and delivery (autonomous vehicles, route optimisation AI)

At the same time, new jobs will emerge in AI governance, ethics, system maintenance, and human-AI collaboration roles. The challenge? The transition won’t be smooth for everyone.

A Society with Less Work: How Do We Adapt?

If AI and automation significantly reduce the need for human labour, societies will need to rethink the structure of work and economic participation. Some critical shifts to consider:

1. Universal Basic Income (UBI) and Economic Redistribution

? With millions of traditional jobs disappearing, governments may need to implement UBI or alternative financial support models.

? This would decouple financial security from employment, allowing people to engage in education, creativity, or entrepreneurship instead of repetitive work.

2. Reskilling and Upskilling at Scale

? The workforce must transition towards AI governance, human-centered automation design, and creative problem-solving.

? Businesses and governments must invest in lifelong learning programs to keep workers relevant in an AI-powered economy.

3. Redefining Work: A 4-Day Workweek and AI-Human Collaboration

? Instead of mass unemployment, we may see a shift toward shorter workweeks where humans handle creative, social, and ethical aspects of business, while AI manages operational execution.

? AI-powered workplaces could free humans from repetitive tasks, focusing their energy on innovation, relationship-building, and strategic thinking.

4. New Industries and Roles Will Emerge

? Just as industrial automation created jobs in engineering, robotics, and programming, AI-driven BPA will create roles in AI oversight, automation strategy, and ethics compliance.

? The challenge will be adapting education systems to prepare people for these emerging careers.

The Ethical Debate: Does a Work-Free Society Benefit Humanity?

For centuries, work has been the defining structure of human societies. If automation eliminates much of what we currently consider ‘jobs,’ we must redefine human purpose in a world where productivity is no longer a requirement for survival.

Some view this as a utopia—a world where people focus on creativity, learning, and well-being. Others fear a dystopia where the wealth created by automation is concentrated in the hands of a few, leading to social unrest.

The key will be policies that ensure AI’s benefits are distributed fairly, rather than exacerbating existing inequalities.

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3. The Path Forward: Preparing for an AI-Powered World

The transition from human-driven automation to passive, AI-driven BPA is inevitable. The question is no longer if businesses will adopt it, but how they will adapt to it.

For leaders, this means:

? Preparing teams for AI-first business operations.

? Developing policies that balance automation, privacy, and human oversight.

? Exploring how Passive BPA can transform their competitive advantage.

? Considering the ethical and economic implications of a reduced-labour society.

The future of automation is not about replacing humans, but empowering them to work alongside intelligent systems that learn, adapt, and evolve in real time.

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Conclusion: A New Relationship Between Work, AI, and Society

Passive BPA represents a monumental shift in how businesses operate and how humans interact with work. If implemented thoughtfully, it has the potential to create a more efficient, balanced, and innovative society.

The companies, governments, and individuals who prepare now for a world where AI is an active, adaptive force will be the ones who thrive. The real question is: Will we use AI to build a better future for all, or only for a select few?

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Join the Conversation

?? How do you see Passive BPA changing the workplace?

?? Would you trust an AI that silently optimises your workflows?

?? How should society prepare for a world where fewer people ‘need’ to work?

Let’s discuss in the comments or connect on LinkedIn!