Every QA conference today feels the same - another talk promising autonomous testing nirvana. But what's the reality behind the AI revolution in quality assurance?
We cut through the noise with Stephen Platten, The Stoic Tester, to explore what AI delivers for testing teams. What emerged wasn't a tale of magic or doom, but something far more useful: a pragmatic roadmap for wielding AI as a powerful accelerant.
Stephen opened with an unexpected angle: Stoic philosophy. Drawing from Marcus Aurelius, he distilled it to one principle - focus only on what you control.
"The only thing you can really control is how you react to things that happen," Stephen explained. "You can influence and adjust to other things, but you always own your response to things."
Navigating AI adoption, unclear timelines, and shifting priorities? You can't control management's budget decisions. But you can control how you engage with tools and the standards you uphold.
So, what does AI excel at? Acceleration.
AI crushes it at rapid feedback and volume generation:
"It will get to an answer much quicker than I will. It won't set up the right answer, but it'll get to that answer much faster than me. So, what that allows is really rapid feedback, so I can really start to rattle through ideas and rattle through test cases much faster than doing it by myself."
AI isn't a mythical problem-solver; it's a practical accelerator. But here's the catch: every output demands human direction, review, and validation.
Despite its speed, AI has three non-negotiable limitations:
This is the dealbreaker. Seasoned testers bring domain expertise, regulatory knowledge, and organizational wisdom- skills AI can't replicate from pattern-matching alone.
Here's a sobering stat: by 2025, an estimated 40% of companies will abandon their AI projects. The culprit? AI fatigue.
The root cause is mismatched expectations. Companies adopt AI expecting plug-and-play perfection. When they discover AI delivers 90% of a solution while introducing new quality challenges, burnout hits hard.
The fix? Use AI strategically. Measure its impact on quality, not just velocity.
The conversation wrapped with a look at no-code platforms democratizing test automation. While this empowers non-technical contributors, technical review remains essential.
Stephen's anchor message for the AI revolution: quality trumps speed.
The future isn't about replacing humans with AI. It's about equipping thoughtful and experienced testers with powerful tools and the wisdom to utilize them effectively.
For aspiring testers wondering how to navigate this landscape, Stephen offered concrete guidance:
Most AI tools are built on Python, making it the logical starting point. "I'm not saying you have to become a Python expert, and you can code in your sleep, but at least have an appreciation of the language and the pros and pitfalls of that language," Stephen advised. You don't need mastery; just enough understanding to work effectively with AI-powered tools.
Start distinguishing AI marketing from AI reality. Seek out quality information-training materials, articles, and academic studies on how AI works, including its pitfalls and downsides. Don't get sucked into the hype cycle.
"Never lose the skill of being a critical thinker. Don't outsource your thinking. Don't let AI do the thinking for you."
This is your competitive advantage. AI can accelerate, but it can't replace the judgment that comes from experience and deep domain knowledge.
Stop overthinking which model to use or how to use it ideally. "Just start. And that will happen over time," Stephen urged. "Don't put these human-generated barriers between you and learning something."
Get hands-on:
Peer-to-peer learning is essential. Join testing communities where practitioners share real experiences. Listen to podcasts, attend webinars, and learn from those already experimenting with AI in testing. You'll accelerate your learning and avoid common pitfalls.
The testers and organizations thriving in 2025 and beyond will embrace AI as an accelerator while doubling down on irreplaceable human skills: critical thinking, domain expertise, and unwavering commitment to quality.
An award-winning QA professional with nearly two decades across defence, utility, finance, and insurance. Stephen is a Principal Consultant at Inspire Testing, a member of the board of advisors at the Global Skill Development Council, and an accreditation manager at the UK and Ireland Testing Board. He's recognized for his unique fusion of Stoic philosophy with software quality assurance.
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