I haven't owned an automatic knife--we always called them switchblades back when I did--in many years. I can legally carry one with my CDW license, but they're mostly above my pay grade in retirement. I'm happy with assisted openers and a Spyderco. I can deploy them as quickly as I could an automatic, and they're cutting tools, not stabbing blades like the stiletto type we all fancied when I was young.
One useful, inexpensive assisted opener I like a lot is the SOG Flash II. I've owned a couple but gave one to my sister and the other to my nephew. May have to get another soon. Good value for the money.