Use scripts, not agents, when the steps never change
are not needed when an always follows the same steps. A reminder that goes out on a date can be a scheduled job. Moving data between apps after a trigger can be handled with a webhook and an .
Sorting email by sender or keyword is a rule-based task, not reasoning. A weekly report from the same dashboard can be built with a template and a scheduled run. These cases are usually cheaper, faster, and more reliable as scripts.
Adding an AI model can raise cost and create more ways for the workflow to fail. An agent makes more sense for a support inbox where every message is different and the system must decide whether the issue is a refund, a bug, a , or something answerable from .
Key points
- Fixed-step work is usually better handled by a script than by an AI agent.
- Reminders, data moves, email sorting, and repeat reports can often use simple .
- Unneeded AI add cost and extra failure points.
- Agents fit better when each input is different and the next step must be chosen dynamically.
- A support inbox can justify an agent because messages may require different handling paths.