Automatic was an attempt to recapture the success of Sharpe & Numan's collaboration single "Change Your Mind", which reached number 17 in the UK charts in 1985.

Although "Change Your Mind" was initially supposed to be a one-off single, Numan recalled that "the whole experience was great fun and Bill and I left the door open for more work together.

[3]Numan wrote the song lyrics on Automatic and performed the lead vocals, however, he did not contribute to the writing of the album's music.

Backing vocals were provided by Tessa Niles, who had sung on Numan's four preceding solo albums.

[citation needed] Automatic includes "Change Your Mind" and a remixed version of the third Sharpe + Numan single, "No More Lies" (1988, UK#34).

If my own [solo] career had been going well I would have had no qualms whatsoever about making that album, because my own status and musical direction would have been solid and successful.