From vibe coding to vibe automating: a new revolution for automation?
That nagging feeling – the repetitive task sucking up your time, the clunky process everyone complains about – you know it could be smoother. Traditionally, fixing it involved meticulous mapping, maybe some coding, or wrestling with complex software settings. But what if you could just... describe the vibe you want? Enter Vibe Automating, the application of the "vibe coding" philosophy to the world of workflow automation.
Coined in spirit after Andrej Karpathy's "vibe coding," Vibe Automating leans heavily on AI automation. Much like vibe coding uses Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate source code from natural language prompts, Vibe Automating involves describing a desired process or outcome to an AI-powered automation platform. The AI then interprets this "vibe" – the intent, the desired feeling of efficiency – and generates the actual automated workflow configuration. The user's role shifts significantly: less about manual construction, more about prompting, guiding, testing, and refining the AI's output.
A key characteristic, mirroring vibe coding, is that the user might accept and use the generated workflow automation without fully understanding every intricate detail of how the AI constructed it behind the scenes. As AI researcher Simon Willison noted about vibe coding, if you've reviewed and understood every line, it's more like using an AI assistant. Vibe Automating, in its purest sense, involves trusting the AI's generated solution based on whether it works and feels right, even if the underlying logic pathways built by the AI aren't completely transparent.
Why is This Happening Now? The AI Interpretation Engine
The feasibility of Vibe Automating hinges on advancements in AI that can genuinely interpret natural language intent and translate it into concrete actions within no-code or low-code environments. Platforms are emerging that allow you to state your goal plainly: "When a customer submits the feedback form, if the sentiment is negative, create a high-priority ticket in Zendesk and notify the support channel in Slack. If positive, add their email to the 'Happy Customers' list in Mailchimp."
The AI automation engine parses this, identifies the trigger (form submission), the conditions (sentiment analysis – perhaps using another AI!), the actions (create ticket, send notification, add to list), and the required integrations (form tool, Zendesk, Slack, Mailchimp). It then constructs the workflow. This drastically lowers the barrier for business process automation and task automation, empowering those who feel the pain point but lack the technical depth to build the solution manually. It's about achieving the desired operational rhythm, letting the AI handle the orchestration.
A Framework for Prompting the Vibe
Engaging in Vibe Automating requires effectively communicating your intent to the AI. Instead of detailed specs, focus on describing the scenario and the desired transformation. Here’s a "Vibe Prompting" approach:
Step | Focus | Guiding Prompts / Description Elements | Example Vibe Prompt |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Describe the Situation & Friction | The Current "Bad Vibe" | What's happening now? What feels wrong/slow/annoying? Be specific about the trigger and the pain point. | "Right now, we manually download webinar attendee lists from Zoom, then upload them to Salesforce as leads. It's slow, happens late, and sometimes we miss people." |
2. State the Desired Outcome & Flow | The Target "Good Vibe" | How should it ideally work? What's the seamless end state? Focus on the result and the feeling (e.g., instant, effortless). | "Ideally, as soon as the webinar ends, attendees should automatically appear as new leads in Salesforce with their name and email, tagged with the webinar name." |
3. Provide Key Details (If Known) | Essential Information & Systems Involved | Mention specific apps (Zoom, Salesforce), key data points (name, email, webinar name), and any simple rules. Don't overspecify the how, just the what. | "Needs to connect Zoom and Salesforce. Get attendee first name, last name, email. Create a Lead record. Use the Zoom webinar topic as a tag or field." |
4. Issue the Prompt & Generate | Tell the AI / Automation Platform | Combine the above into a clear natural language request for your AI-enabled workflow tool. | "Automate this: When a Zoom webinar ends, get the attendee list (first name, last name, email). For each attendee, create a new Lead in Salesforce using their details. Tag the lead with the webinar topic." |
5. Test & Vibe Check | Does it Work? Does it Feel Right? | Run a test (e.g., with a past webinar list). Did it create the leads correctly in Salesforce? Does the result match the "Good Vibe" you aimed for? | Check Salesforce for the newly created leads. Verify names, emails, and tags are correct. |
6. Refine (If Needed) | Adjust Prompt or Minor Tweaks | If it didn't work or feel quite right, refine the prompt ("Also add a note saying 'Webinar Attendee'") or make small adjustments in the visual editor if the platform allows. Repeat test. | "Okay, it worked, but also add 'Webinar Attendee' to the lead description field." (Re-prompt or adjust the generated workflow). |
This framework focuses on clearly articulating the problem and the desired state so the AI has the best chance of generating a functional workflow that matches your intuitive goal.
Platforms Enabling the Vibe
This style of automation thrives on platforms designed for intuitive interaction and AI integration. Workflow86, for example, combines a visual no-code interface (allowing for manual refinement if needed) with the potential for AI-driven workflow generation from natural language prompts. Such tools act as the interpreter, taking your described vibe and translating it into the necessary API calls, logic steps, and data mappings, effectively becoming your AI automation partner.
The Reality Check: Power and Pitfalls
Like vibe coding, Vibe Automating offers incredible speed and accessibility, particularly for prototyping, personal productivity ("workflows for one"), or automating less complex, non-critical tasks. It allows rapid iteration based on feeling and outcome.
However, the core characteristic – accepting a generated solution without full understanding – carries risks, especially in professional or production environments. As Karpathy noted, AI tools can struggle with bugs, requiring potentially non-obvious user interventions. Relying on AI-generated workflows you don't fully grasp can lead to:
Hidden Bugs: Errors in logic that only manifest under specific conditions.
Security Vulnerabilities: Improper data handling or authentication configured by the AI.
Maintenance Challenges: Difficulty debugging or modifying a complex workflow you didn't build piece-by-piece.
Accountability Issues: Who is responsible when an AI-generated workflow fails or causes problems?
As Simon Willison cautioned regarding vibe coding in production, the understandability of the underlying system is crucial for evolution and maintenance. Vibe Automating is powerful for getting started, but for critical business process automation, a deeper dive and validation beyond just "it seems to work" is essential.
Tune In, Prompt, and Automate (Wisely)
Vibe Automating, powered by AI and intuitive no-code platforms, is changing how we approach workflow automation. It allows us to translate felt needs and desired outcomes directly into functional processes using natural language. It's an exciting development for democratizing automation. Use it to rapidly prototype, tackle personal task automation, and streamline simpler workflows. But approach critical business process automation with awareness, ensuring that the convenience of AI generation is balanced with the necessary understanding and rigor for reliable, secure, and maintainable systems. The vibe is powerful, but sometimes, you still need to know the score.