Software Testing in the Age of AI: Understanding the Right Problem First
Software teams are running more tests, investing in automation, and incorporating AI into their processes. However, passing all tests does not necessarily mean that users’ problems have been solved. An application may function correctly from a technical standpoint while people still struggle to complete their tasks. Test coverage may increase while the value delivered by the product remains unchanged. According to Barış Sarıalioğlu, Founder of TesterYou, discussions about the future of software quality must begin by questioning which problem we are actually trying to solve.
“For years, we have been asking similar questions in software testing: How can we find more bugs? How can we increase test coverage? How can we automate more tests? Each of these questions can be useful. But first, we need to understand this: Whose problem are we trying to solve, and what exactly is that problem? Solving an incorrectly defined problem very efficiently will not lead us to the right outcome.”
Test Teams Empowered by AI
AI can support test teams in tasks such as generating test ideas, examining data, and investigating relationships between code and bug reports. The value of this support ultimately depends on how teams use the time and capacity they gain.
Barış Sarıalioğlu, Founder of TesterYou, highlights the importance of the human role when evaluating AI investments:
“Test professionals should not be viewed as a cost item to be reduced. They are an asset that organizations can develop. With AI, we can expand people’s curiosity, creativity, research capabilities, and capacity for critical inquiry. Recognizing a risk we had never considered before is just as important as producing more tests in less time. The real opportunity lies in enabling test professionals to observe more effectively, ask better questions, and make more informed decisions.”
This approach also brings the meaning of metrics in quality assurance back into focus. The number of tests executed, automation rates, and coverage percentages make teams’ activities visible. However, these indicators must also be linked to user experience and business outcomes.
“If a customer leaves the checkout page, we can immediately start writing more tests. But first, we need to understand why they left. Is there a technical error? Is the delivery fee displayed too late? Is the user being asked for unnecessary information? Each possibility requires a different investigation. The first responsibility of testing is to produce the evidence that helps us distinguish between these possibilities.”
The Quality of AI-Powered Systems Must Also Be Examined
As AI becomes part of products, the scope of what test teams need to investigate is expanding. Beyond the accuracy of generated responses, it is also important to understand how those responses change under different conditions, which user groups may encounter problems, and where human intervention is necessary.
Sarıalioğlu describes this shift as follows:
“We cannot settle for a single successful result when testing a system that uses AI. What happens when the data changes? How do we evaluate a system when it gives different answers to similar questions? How do we identify an incorrect answer that sounds convincing? To understand quality, we must examine context, human behavior, and the impact of outcomes alongside technical knowledge.”
Through its training and consulting services, TesterYou combines this perspective with technical skills, critical thinking, and hands-on learning. Its TYGO (TesterYou Go) platform also supports continuous professional development.
Sarıalioğlu’s message to software teams is clear:
“Before choosing a new tool, setting an automation target, or writing hundreds of tests, we need to pause and ask ourselves: Have we truly understood the problem? Because the first thing we need to test is our own understanding of the problem.”
About TesterYou
Founded in 2018, TesterYou is a technology-focused consulting and training company. A pioneer in software testing and quality assurance in Türkiye, the company is among the limited number of organizations offering training accredited by international bodies such as ISTQB, UXQB, and ICAgile.
TesterYou provides services in digital transformation, Agile transformation, user and customer experience (UX/CX), technology training, and certification. Operating as a “Technology and Digital Process Partner,” the company supports organizations throughout their digital journeys.
With a focus on user-centered thinking, continuous learning, and sustainable quality, TesterYou aims to deliver measurable value to both individuals and organizations. Drawing on its experience in critical sectors such as banking, insurance, e-commerce, defense, and high technology, the company helps mature software testing processes and promote a broader culture of digital quality across the industry.
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