A quick message for those struggling with the mudslide of artificial intelligence mania and feeling like they are missing out or question the validity of claims being made by AI fanboys.

It is entirely possible to view AI in software testing critically and not have some form of syndrome the AI fanboy club would suggest is wrong with you. In fact, it is absolutely a requirement of the testing community to look at any claim with scepticism, as IME that is a large part of our job as testers.

Yes, things feel like they are moving very fast right now but I can assure you, no serious person in the software testing industry is dismissing the impact or implications of AI in testing.  And for some practical advice to let you know you’re not crazy, here are some serious folks I am following closely on the frontlines: Dagmar Monett, Timnit Gebru, and Ed Zitron who recently wrote this in his great piece “The Phony Comforts of AI Optimism”:

“Criticism — skepticism — takes a certain degree of bravery, or at least it does so when you make fully-formed arguments.”

The current mood in software testing reminds me of a discussion I had 10 years ago with my friend Pradeep Soundararajan, when someone at the conference we were speaking at asked what it takes to improve testing in a company. “The “Kung Fu Panda” from Moolya raised his hand and said “One thing – Courage!“.

So please bear that in mind when you dive into the endlessly foaming morass of AI fandom right now. For years now, the testing business has abdicated one of its core risk management functions by litigating whether something “should” have been done loooooong after it’s too late. I’m not prepared to make that mistake again…

But for a little fun, here are some signs you might be an AI fanboy…

1. You attack anyone questioning AI as a self-motivated commercial protection racket when in fact YOU are selling AI bots or whatnot…

2. “Testing” in your worldview is the lowest value and most shallow form of testing that’s easiest to automate (but somehow hasn’t been replaced by #testautomation)…

3. You think anyone criticising AI in testing is only afraid of losing their job…

4. Safety, ethics, or harm are never brought into your discussions or quickly dismissed…

5. You think NO ONE critical of AI in testing is doing any serious work despite all evidence to the contrary…

Enjoy and keep testing…!