You will find the AI in CIV much, much better then in Civ Rev. The designer of the AI stated his goal was to make the AIs behave like role playing human players, that is they have defined personalities and play to win, but don't purely focus on min/maxed tactics to do it.
As for automating things, don't do it. That's quite possibly the worst advice I've ever seen on these forums.
As for difficulty level, I'd start at Warlord if you're competent at Civ Rev, if you play below that level, the game wol't be interesting, as you'll crush the AIs with your insane bonuses. If you're an expert at Civ Rev you should probably play at Noble, or even Prince. I see no gain, or enjoyment from utterly smashing low difficulty crippled AIs, but this is a matter of personal preference. Some people thouroughly enjoy playing settler. Just based on what you're asking, it sounds like you want a somewhat challenging game, where you will probably beat the AI.
The main thing to focus on in terms of changes from Civ Rev, is the more detailed economy. You need to understand the differences between all the terrain improvements. Mines, cottages, farms, windmills, waterwheels, and workshops are all useful in their own way. It takes time to figure out good city specialization, and how to use the terrain improvements. This is where you should focus.