Artifacts are magical devices that are capable of producing a limited effect without having a living being control the results. In many cases, an artifact's power is also self-contained or limited in some manner.
Resonance
One of the main differences with artifacts is how they can handle resonance. Because the item is separate from the mage smith who created them. This means they cannot continually adapt or change magic to the surrounding environment, which means they are vulnerable to the ravages of feedback. This problem also affects others, increasing the levels of feedback in all surrounding magical fields, sometimes with explosive chain reactions.
In addition, since artifacts cannot physically adapt the ravages of feedback, they are more likely to catastrophically fail, usually by shattering or exploding. The resulting release of energy may be sufficient to cause feedback.
Legally, the owner of the artifact is considered the source of any damage from feedback, but artifacts usually have a special category of felony feedback since they are known to be fragile in contrary magical fields.
Effect
Because there is no such thing as artificial intelligence, artifacts are not capable of adjusting their magical effect. However, they can have a suite of powers which makes them a weaker form of a talent.
Most artifacts can only do one thing, such as produce a flame or filter water. It is more complex to add controls, such as sensory input to allow the effect to be turned on or off, or only to work in the presence of certain people. Additional effects are also exponentially harder to produce in a single artifact.
Energy
Most artifacts are engineered to tap into a specific source of magical power, which may be the wielder of the artifact or an energy reservoir.