In this episode of DRUID Talks, Kieran Gilmurray sits down with Paula Carneiro Cox, Head of Marketing & Business Development at WonderBotz, to explore how AI Agents, Agentic AI, and Generative AI are shaping the future of business automation. 

Kieran Gilmurray:

The world has gone AI crazy or so it might seem. But does that mean the end of intelligent automation? Or are we simply looking at the emperor’s new clothes? Today, Paula Carneiro Cox, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Wonderbotz, joins us to dig into that question.

Paula, welcome to DRUID Talks.

Paula Carneiro Cox:

Hey Kieran, I’m excited to be here, and on yet another platform with you! It’s always a pleasure to talk about our favorite topic: how to drive better business outcomes through technology. And yes, there’s a new flavor of the year, AI, so let’s dive in.

Kieran Gilmurray:

For anyone living under a rock who doesn’t know you yet, can you share a bit about your background and your role at Wonderbotz?

Paula Carneiro Cox:

Of course! I’m responsible for marketing and business development at Wonderbotz. My background is in process improvement, so moving into intelligent automation was a natural evolution. I've spent years translating all the “alphabet soup”, RPA, OCR, IDP, into real business stories. At Wonderbotz, I help organizations understand how to operationalize these tools, and I also work with universities and up-and-coming talent to help them see this as a real career path, not just a hobby. Automation is transforming the workforce, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.

Kieran Gilmurray:

Well, you sound like the perfect person to answer this.

Is Generative AI just intelligent automation with a new coat of paint? Or something different?

Paula Carneiro Cox:

Great question. I like to think of intelligent automation as a big umbrella with many tools underneath, Generative AI being one of them. The reason it’s captured attention is because, for the first time, non-technical business users are seeing behind the curtain. Gen AI has helped bridge the gap between business and IT. It offers a “head start” in automating and understanding processes, which is huge.

What it’s done is make business conversations about automation more meaningful. Suddenly, you can measure effort, sequence projects more logically, and identify what makes sense to automate next. And that’s something we’ve struggled with in intelligent automation for 10–15 years: what do we do after the low-hanging fruit?

Kieran Gilmurray:

Exactly! The complexity, the headcount; it’s always been a challenge. But now, we finally have tools that support rather than overwhelm. Which brings me to the next question.

Is RPA and intelligent automation still relevant today?

Paula Carneiro Cox:

Absolutely, more than ever. But I don’t believe every executive needs to understand it in detail. Think of it like the outsourcing wave we had with BPO: no one needed to know every detail, they just needed results. That’s how automation is now.

At Wonderbotz, we’re approaching it as a managed service. We call it Digital BPO, because you’re outsourcing to the cloud and to robots instead of offshore teams. It’s business critical, nimble, and scalable. You don’t need to know what’s behind the curtain, you just need the outcome.

Kieran Gilmurray:

I love that. Though I shudder when people say “build your own platform.” I’ve seen organizations try to recreate what platforms like DRUID already offer, and it never scales well. Also, you mentioned Agentic AI: is it the next generation of RPA, or something different?

Paula Carneiro Cox:

Agentic AI is a category within the intelligent automation umbrella. Think of it as evolution, not revolution. At Wonderbotz, we partnered with DRUID because we saw the shift toward conversational enterprise happening. People now expect natural, intuitive digital experiences, thanks to ChatGPT.

Agentic AI is about systems that proactively suggest what’s next. For instance, if I built an automation in SAP, it’ll suggest related automations that build on that logic. It’s predictive, composable, and intelligent, and it takes the guesswork out of what comes next.

We’ve been doing some of this manually for years. But now it’s scalable, automatic, and data-driven. It’s exciting, and it’s definitely here to stay, whatever name we give it.

Kieran Gilmurray:

The conductor metaphor really works, something to guide you forward, based on what’s already in motion.

So, what are Wonderbots and DRUID doing together with Agentic AI right now?

Paula Carneiro Cox:

We’re drinking our own champagne, as they say! First, we’re using DRUID internally to make our website conversational, so prospects can experience the tech firsthand. That’s much more powerful than any sales pitch.

Second, we’re helping large enterprise clients, especially banks, improve their internal HR processes. Post-pandemic, there’s a huge focus on employee satisfaction. Conversational AI helps simplify things like policies, holidays, cultural observances; all the stuff that’s complex in global organizations.

And of course, we’re improving customer service too. We all know the pain of shouting “agent!” on a phone call. DRUID helps fix that. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s about bringing humanity back to work. Ironically, we’re using robots to do that, and I love it.

Kieran Gilmurray:

Beautifully said. And you’re right. Take Bank of Transilvania, for example. DRUID helped them reimagine not just HR workflows but how they deliver HR leadership. It's a game-changer.

So, what does the future look like for automation?

Paula Carneiro Cox:

I think automation is finally getting its rightful place at the table. It’s no longer just IT’s job; it’s a business strategy. I’m seeing finance leaders, even CFOs, driving AI initiatives now. That’s new, and it's needed.

We’re moving toward a world where digital workers are part of the budget and HR considers them part of the workforce. Automation becomes a line of business, not just a tool.

That said, we also need global governance and ethics standards. I’ve been advocating for education at all levels, including public sector and schools. This is a workforce-wide change; no one is exempt, whether you’re 25 or 65. The future is digital, and we all need to keep learning.

Kieran Gilmurray:

Exactly. And those who wait for “the next best thing” may be left behind. The pace is too fast now. This isn’t just IT’s job anymore; it’s cross-functional, and every department needs to be fluent in this.

So finally, where can people find out more about Wonderbotz and your partnership with DRUID?

Paula Carneiro Cox:

Head to wonderbotz.com. And yes, that’s Wonderbotz with a Z at the end. By the time this podcast airs, our DRUID partnership will be front and center on our homepage.

We’re also running joint webinars, doing live events in New York, and launching a conversational site experience. And we’re not stopping there; we’ll be on the road with DRUID, doing more education and outreach.

If you want to chat, find me on LinkedIn. I’m always open to a conversation. Whether you’re under 40 and learning fast or over 60 and reinventing yourself, we believe in upskilling at any age. No one’s exempt, and the future is collaborative.

Kieran Gilmurray:

I love that. Conversational AI infused with Generative and Agentic AI leads to true digital fluency. Paula, thank you so much for joining DRUID Talks.

And to everyone watching and listening, follow Paula, check out Wonderbotz, and keep learning. See you on the next episode.

Paula Carneiro Cox:

Thanks so much, Kieran. A pleasure as always.

Stay tuned for the next episode of DRUID Talks. Subscribe to be notified at https://druidai.com/talks.