It was automated when I was there. Even when the bus pulled up, an outside speaker would announce the number, name and direction of the bus. It seemed useful for a street with a lot of routes, like Michigan or Clark.
The L trains have automated announcements as well, but heading to Oak Park, the Green Line trains were announcing them one stop too early. The automated announcements there are more useful, but more wordy, than ours - like I posted earlier - "The next stop is Library, State and Van Buren. Doors open on the right at Library, State and Van Buren. Connections to Red, Blue, Orange and Pink line trains at Library, State and Van Buren." I liked the voice more though - and it was a tad quieter and soothing than the TTC lady, whose voice bugs me (but better than the "when you hear the subway doors chime...." woman in the station PA announcements)