It's entirely possible to consume fewer calories "automatically" by making simple dietary changes that don't involve tracking calories. Thermodynamically, a calorie is a calorie, but it turns out the physics picture misses the point of recommending how to eat for weight loss and good health. Nutritionally, a calorie is emphatically not a calorie.

Calories in different macronutrient forms (protein, fat, simple carbs, complex carbs) have different effects on metabolism, satiety, insulin secretion, and mood. These differences in turn alter caloric intake. Cutting out refined starches and added sugar is more effective for long-term weight loss than obsessing over caloric intake, e.g., https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/20/well/eat/counting-calorie...