AI and Bots in Software Testing: Where are we headed? — VTEST Blog
In today’s world, we depend a lot on software in our lives. Naturally, software testing has gained great importance as well. With our ever-rising and ever-complex needs, new technologies, big data, software testing is undergoing rapid transformations too. There’s a noticeable shift towards the use of Bots and AI for testing from the traditional manual testing.
This shift, however, in no way indicates that manual testing is going to perish totally. What actually will happen is that software testing will integrate manual testing and automated testing to and make it more efficient, to match the growing complexities of the software world.
Awareness regarding AI and bots is quickly increasing with their growing usage. They are disrupting many fields including software testing. These technologies are cost-effective and time-productive and free from human error. Machine learning in software testing and developments is much more efficient and permanent compared to training people. As data keeps piling up, feeding them, these machines will only get better and better.
The Role of AI and Bots in Software Testing
1. Scope
Software is a continuously improving piece of technology. Changes occur when new features are to be added, bugs are to be fixed, etc. Effecting these changes requires writing new code. However, even a small change in the code may alter the performance of the software considerably. It is, therefore, necessary to test the software every time there’s a change in the code.
This increases the scope of testing and adds up to the workload of the testers as well. Due to increased workload, testers might lose their focus while working, resulting in a bad product.
On the other hand, A bot can easily recreate the necessary tests to integrate new parameters and also run parallel tests, reducing the tester’s burden. This frees the tester to do the manual parts of the job and thus resulting in a more fine output.
2. Working 24*7
AI and bots are extremely useful when lengthy, monotonous, and those tests where human intervention is not needed are to be conducted, which would be very tiring for human testers. As bots can work 24*7 with the same efficiency, they are the right fit for these kinds of jobs. Deploying them minimizes human efforts, human error. It also frees the testers to focus on inspecting the test results and resolving the issues, if any.
3. Advanced Continuous Testing
Continuous testing is the key to enhance the quality of your software. Continuous testing helps detect anomalies early on and take action on any corrupt information present.
This type of testing, however important, is very time-consuming for human testers. As future software becomes even more complex, it will become downright impossible. Bots and AI can easily perform such tests, resulting in bug-free software.
Now vs. Future of AI and bots in Software Testing
Currently, the use of AI and bots is limited to detecting defects in dedicated parts. It will take time for them to take up more complex tasks. However, as the bots get smarter, it’s estimated that they will be able to detect any anomalies in the script, even understand and predict the user’s needs.
If this happens, and believe me it will, the workings of the world will change drastically. Some may think that unemployment will be a prominent issue but the rise of AI can also be seen as a positive scenario. It may open up newer and fresher avenues for technical engineers as most of the menial work they are doing today will be done by smart and efficient AI models.
Although we can’t exactly predict what role AI will play in our lives in the future, we know for sure that its role will be much more than what it is today.
Conclusion:
We have seen AI mostly in Science Fiction movies, and in almost every one of them it takes over human life in a big way. We don’t know how and how much it will shape our lives, but it’s safe to assume that in the distant future, most human jobs will be redundant.
In the context of software development and testing, as our software needs become more and more advanced and sophisticated, we’ll need software testing of similar complexity and competence. AI and bots will play a big role here. Bots can perform the more time-consuming and high volume work, leaving human testers to oversee the bots.
How can VTEST help?
VTEST understands the importance of automation from a micro-level to a larger picture in today’s busy world. We are working tirelessly towards making the world less busy and more efficient. We have developed great capabilities in AI and bot employed testing. Our considerable infrastructure and expertise also play an important role in our projects. With our expert testers, we ensure we’ll meet all your testing needs.
Originally published at https://www.vtestcorp.com on September 1, 2020.
