This paper explores the Swedish public sector's response to an impending demographic crisis, particularly the challenges posed by an ageing population. It scrutinises the paradoxical perception of automation, especially Robotic Process Automation (RPA), as both a panacea and a stopgap measure. The paper identifies two main themes: the pressing need to rejuvenate the public sector through automation to avert potential collapse, and the reshaping of current work practices to suit an automated, albeit uncertain, future. At the core of this analysis is the idea of automation as a continual journey, not a final solution. This journey is akin to a form of repair work, where automation technologies act as provisional, duct-tape solutions, perpetually pushing the boundaries of the future. The paper argues that the role of automation extends beyond the mere elimination of human labour; it is about its transformation. Automation emerges as a catalyst for organisational change, enforcing uniformity and challenging traditional, individualised work methods. In summary, this paper highlights the nuanced use of metaphors of breakage and repair in steering the public sector's organisational transformation. It positions automation as a pivotal yet elusive concept, emphasising the complexity and temporality of solutionism in the face of uncertain futures.