What should you automate first? An AI automation prioritization formula for PMs
TL;DR
List your team's repetitive work → score 4 criteria (frequency × time per run, how rule-defined it is, risk when wrong, data readiness) → pick 1–2 high-score, low-risk items for a 2-week pilot → measure real hours saved before scaling.
Scoring table (1–5)
| Criterion | Scores high when… |
|---|---|
| Volume | Repeats daily, ≥ 10 minutes each time |
| Clarity | Inputs/outputs are definable, examples exist |
| Risk when wrong | Mistakes are easy to fix, no customer/money impact (high score = low risk) |
| Data | Already digital and reachable via API |
Examples in a software team
| Task | Assessment | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly progress report | Repetitive, data already in Jira/Git | ✅ Do it now |
| Support ticket triage | High volume, humans review hard cases | ✅ Pilot |
| Auto-replying to refund requests | Financial risk | ⚠️ Drafts only |
| Deciding roadmap priorities | Needs strategic judgment | ❌ Keep human |
Simple ROI
Hours saved / month = runs × minutes per run × automation success rate / 60
Cost / month = API tokens + infrastructure + maintenance hours
Break-even (months) = build effort / (value of hours saved − monthly cost)References: Building effective agents — Anthropic