

Many testers are often instructed to turn their work into algorithms that show that their product works. This is a major shift in the role of a tester from previous years, but it is also a required part of sufficient application testing within organizations always looking to meet the next deadline. Testers must be vocal advocates and critics How it shapes modern testingĪnother key element of modern testing is that testers must advocate fiercely for testing in their organizations. This will help them think more critically about the tests they are running and whether they are in fact meeting quality criteria. Looking closely at the output of AI instead of merely depending on it presents an opportunity for testers to learn both about themselves and the products that they created. While testers can benefit greatly from AI and other automation technology, they should not rely on the output of AI blindly.īolton noted that analyzing AI-based results has other benefits aside from a more bug-free sprint. To navigate this paradox, testers need to be strategic and test responsibly. While deadlines are important, meeting them should not compromise product quality. Instead of working to meet quality criteria, testers are often compelled to do whatever it takes to meet the next sprint deadline. While testers are under pressure to turn their testing skills into algorithms, they also see these algorithms fail because they are not being applied properly. The fact that both AI and data privacy are increasing in importance simultaneously presents a paradox. On the other hand, he said, organizations have also begun to focus increasingly on security, data privacy, and protecting personal customer data. The first key element of testing in 2021 is the realization that testers are caught between two technological extremes.īach pointed out that, on one hand, there is a lot of talk about AI in testing, robotic process automation, and other technologies that can play an extremely helpful role in speeding up the testing process. privacy concerns How it shapes modern testing Here are those three points, and what they mean. Yet through all the arguments made and anecdotes shared, the discussion kept going back to three main factors that really shape testing in 2021.

These important topics are top of mind in the world of testing today, and it was exciting to speak about these critical issues with two pioneers in the industry. We discussed a wide range of issues that are affecting testing in 2021, from AI and other tooling to the shifting role of the tester. That certainly was the case during my recent panel discussion on the state of testing in 2021 with James Bach and Michael Bolton. Ask any seasoned tester about the state of testing today, and you will get an earful of opinions.
