How to automate with AI in 2026

Automation makes it possible to increase your productivity through workflows and reducing repeated work. Integrating AI into automation makes it possible to automate more in a faster, smarter, and more efficient way. AI has reached new heights in 2026, and it is easier than ever to access and use this technology in your work and in your life.

Understanding how to leverage AI and automation is a key skill to success, whether you are running a small business, optimizing your personal productivity, or coordinating a team.

Leading automation tools like IFTTT integrate with over 1000 services and apps, including top AI tools. Our AI Applet creator, GPT, and AI services help you take your automation to the next level. Best of all, it’s easy to use and quick to get started.

Benefits of AI automation

Automation can have many benefits for individuals, businesses, and teams alike. You can save time and money across every tasks, and re-invest these resources in other areas. For small business owners, spending less time on manual tasks can make it easier to connect with clients. In your day to day, automation can help you acheive personal goals or accomplish tasks faster, allowing you to spend more time with the people you love.

What can you automate in 2026?

Any repeated task can be automated. On a day to day basis, it can be useful to notice the types of activities that you manually do each day.

Daily essentials

Create personalized updates to start your day, customize your calendar notifications, and contextualize task lists with automated routines. AI can be an instrumental tool that unlocks a world of knowledge. You can prompt AI to give you a workout regimen, a weekly grocery list, or summarize the news, then have IFTTT bring this information to life on your calendar, your phone, or your to-do list.

Content and communication

There are many ways to make use of AI and automation when it comes to written and generated content. Cross-posting on social media has long been a key function of automation. Upgrade your existing workflows with AI prompts that create targeted posts for each social platform. Similarly, translation and proof-reading is a powerful function of AI that can help you expand the reach and quality of your work.

It is easy to create Applets that generate content drafts or outlines based on topics on your content calendar or for upcoming blogs. One of AI's strengths is its ability to pull from a long list of resources and bring relevant information into a template. This can create a useful starting point for your own work.

Data and task management

Summarize meetings, forward information, and transform notes with your workflows. These are just a few ways that AI and automation can work hand-in-hand to improve your task management routines. AI can act as your personal assistant in these manual projects that happen on a regular basis.

Tools like Claude can even help you contextualize images or other content types and give you useful feedback that can move your to-do list forward.

Leading AI automation tools

With thousands (and thousands) of AI tools to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to start. IFTTT makes it easy by putting all the best tools in one place. You can kick off your first Applet in minutes and choose from a variety of AI apps.

You can also use our custom Automation Assistant GPT on ChatGPT for free. This is a super helpful resource that connects to your IFTTT account directly from ChatGPT.

How to get started with AI automation in 2026

Adding new elements into your daily routines can feel scary, but the goal of automation is to take things off your plate and give you back time in your day. Follow these steps to unlock the power of AI automation without feeling overwhelmed.

1. Identify automation opportunities

Start by taking a look at your daily to-do lists and figure out what you find yourself doing over and over. These repetitive tasks are great candidates for automation.

2. Pick AI tools that fit your goals

We'll make this one easy, use IFTTT. 😉

3. Create workflows that work for you

Learn and iterate on your workflows by testing prompts, modifying the triggers or timing, and deciding if the automation feels helpful for you.

4. Start small and scale

How you utilize AI and automation is up to you. Personalize your workflows as you go and slowly build where you are making use of these tools. Soon you will find lots of opportunities where AI and automation can save you time.

Key trends in AI automation in 2026

AI continues to evolve and expand its capabilities. In 2026, you can expect it to continue to change the way we shop, chat, search, and create.

Multi-agent systems will continue to advance but also become more powerful for teams of all sizes. Agents can bridge multiple tools in a single place and add context to each decision. All in all, agents can speed up decision making and deliver measurable outcomes for small businesses and transform an entrepreneur's daily flow.

AI will also continue to simplify many platforms to make them more accessible, require less technical knowledge, and provide more assistance with error handling. Expect better, faster, and more reliable service from the tools you use every day.

IFTTT makes AI easy

AI automation can help you whether you are improving your business, enhancing your smart home, or streamlining your daily routines. Tools are becoming smarter, easier, and faster than ever. It's time to give AI automation a try and see how it can support your productivity.

Juggling the many AI tools and options available to you can be difficult. IFTTT makes it easy and accessible. Start a free IFTTT Pro+ trial to try it yourself today.