Software Testing and AI - Man Against Machine

“A bad developer will be replaced by AI. A good one will integrate AI into their workflow.” - Richard Seidl

Do you remember the 3D printing hype? There was a time when everyone was talking about how in future we would just order blueprints online and simply print our toothbrushes, spare parts, shoes and food. And? Well, I don’t have one. Most people around me don’t have one. And those who do have one don’t use it to print schnitzel. But that doesn’t mean that the technology hasn’t caught on. 3D printing is mature and in productive use in dental technology, industry and mechanical engineering.

And this is the case with many innovations. The we-will-change-everything and you-must-change-your-business-now-otherwise-you-will-lost mood is followed by a bit of a hangover and then - and this is the beauty - innovation finds its place in our society. Supports us. Takes us further. Makes new things possible. Sometimes turns industries upside down. Destroys and creates jobs. But not in a super-GAU. But in such a way that we can carry on. Get up. Straighten the crown and move on. This phenomenon is beautifully illustrated in the Gartner hype cycle. Google, Binge or GPTe this!

And AI? Will all knowledge, information and virtual jobs be killed off now? Only tradespeople and doctors will remain

I don’t think so.

Yes, jobs will go under. So will industries. Like the weavers in their day. But here too - and with all other jobs - the good and smart ones will know how to use AI for themselves and use it to develop further. The others will grumble, rant and look around.

AI in software development

And what does it look like for us? Over the last few weeks, I have spoken to many people from the fields of programming, architecture, requirements engineering and testing. The assessment here too: Use AI to do your tasks better.
And the testers? Here, too, we have wonderful opportunities to use AI for ourselves: for analyses, test case creation, finding error states, generating test data. And when I think about my first test projects, I’m relieved that testers no longer have to do that these days 😉

And finally, we testers still have an ace up our sleeve: Trust. Or would you like to sit in a car that has only been tested by an AI? Not me.

Not yet.