automate vs modify

automate and modify both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
automate	No	No	Yes	No
modify	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, modify is a hypernym of automate; that is, modify is a word with a broader meaning than automate:

Other hypernyms of automate include alter, change.

automate (verb)	modify (verb)
make automatic or control or operate automatically	make less severe or harsh or extreme
	add a modifier to a constituent
	cause to change; make different; cause a transformation