Abstract
<jats:p>Recent advancements in intelligent systems and industrial automation have accelerated the evolution of digital manufacturing ecosystems, contributing significantly to the realization of Industry 4.0. This chapter investigates the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven intelligent automation, emphasizing the convergence of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and AI technologies in optimizing complex industrial and enterprise operations. RPA systems are designed to execute repetitive, deterministic tasks based on structured logic, enabling improved operational throughput with minimal human intervention. When integrated with AI techniques such as machine learning algorithms, natural language processing (NLP), and neural network-based data modelling, these systems acquire cognitive capabilities, including data inference, anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and semantic classification. This review synthesizes recent advancements in AI-RPA integration, with particular focus on high-impact applications across key sectors like manufacturing, precision agriculture, healthcare diagnostics, financial services, and intelligent retail systems. The analysis highlights how intelligent automation enhances process efficiency, reduces operational costs, increases system scalability, and facilitates real-time decision-making. Furthermore, it addresses critical technical and ethical challenges, including interoperability issues, data governance, algorithmic bias, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. By leveraging advanced AI models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs), deep reinforcement learning, and knowledge-based reasoning RPA platforms are increasingly capable of supporting adaptive and autonomous operations. This convergence fosters the emergence of smart factories and cyber-physical production systems that are self-optimizing and resilient. The paper aims to provide a comprehensive technical perspective on the synergistic integration of RPA and AI, offering insights into its pivotal role in redefining intelligent automation within the framework of Industry 4.0.</jats:p>