What is AI Testing?

What is AI Testing?

AI testing is a type of software testing that uses artificial intelligence to enhance and streamline the testing process. The objective of AI testing is to evaluate a software’s capabilities, efficiency, and reliability by automating tasks such as test execution, data validation, and error identification. 

By leveraging AI capabilities, businesses can fast-track their testing process and improve the overall quality of their software.

Challenges in Traditional Test Automation

Traditional automation testing comes with a fair share of challenges ranging from sluggish test execution to the persistent issue of maintaining scripts. Listed below are some of the common challenges with traditional automated testing.

• Slow Test Execution: Slow test execution is the number one reason for delays in testing. Emphasis on factors like UI automation, poorly designed test scripts, insufficient test case sequencing, lack of device coverage etc. leads to slower test execution.
• Excessive Test Maintenance: Test scripts are sensitive to the app’s UI and structure. Therefore every small change in the UI requires changes in the test script. 40-60% of the total automation effort goes into script maintenance.
• Issues with Test Cases: Test cases can sometimes break due to minor changes in the code, such as renaming a component. 
• Test Data Generation: About 30% of automation issues arise from the complexities in managing and maintaining test data. Testers have to create test data generation scripts, use version control, etc to generate and maintain test data.
• Lack of Skilled Resources: Conventional automation testing is complex and code-intensive. As a result, nearly 50% of test automation projects fail due to inadequate planning and a lack of skilled resources.
• Slow ROI: A typical software testing automation platform is expected to break even after approximately 25 test automation runs, with a subsequent return on investment (ROI) of about 1.75 anticipated after around 50 runs. The intricacies of software testing economics become even more pronounced for organizations undergoing rapid digital transformation.

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Why Perform AI Testing?

AI testing differs from conventional software testing by leveraging AI for dynamic test case generation, self-healing test automation, intelligent test execution prioritization, and cognitive testing capabilities.

Unlike traditional automation, an AI testing tool will create test scripts using visual models, automatically adapt to application changes, identify potential defects, and automate complex tasks, thereby improving efficiency and coverage.

Listed below are a few reasons why companies should implement AI in Testing.

• No-code tests: Testers can easily automate tests using visual models such as record and playback, drag and drop mechanisms to create and execute tests without writing a single line of code. This completely eliminates the need to learn different frameworks and complex programming languages to execute tests, thereby allowing non-tech experts to get more involved in the testing process
• Smarter and faster test creation: With AI, Testers can create tests quickly by performing actions on screen. 
• Self-healing tests: The Self-healing capability dynamically updates test scripts to adapt to minor application changes, greatly reducing manual updates and maintenance of test scripts.
• Automatic Test Data Generation: Automates generation and maintenance of test data by intelligently understanding the prompt. 
• Easy scheduling, maintenance, and monitoring of tests: Automated scheduling and monitoring simplify test management, saving your business time and resources. With AI, you can schedule daily or weekly builds or intelligently integrate it with your CI system.
• Cost Reduction: When companies transition to intelligent codeless test automation, they typically see cost savings of 25% to 75%. This cost-efficiency is mainly due to reduced complex code maintenance and lesser reliance on specialized coding resources.
• Faster identification of flaky tests: AI detects and flags flaky or inconsistent tests by analyzing patterns, helping teams focus only on valid failures.
• Intelligent test execution prioritization: AI prioritizes test cases based on recent code changes, risk impact, and historical defects. This accelerates feedback for high-priority features.
• Visual and UX validation: AI performs visual regression testing and detects layout or design anomalies that traditional test scripts may overlook.
• Predictive defect analytics: AI uses historical data to forecast areas most likely to fail, allowing preventive action before deployment.

• Improved cross-device & cross-browser testing: AI automatically detects compatibility issues across different environments. It thereby ensures consistent user experiences.
• Enhanced reporting and insights: AI-powered analytics deliver actionable insights, summarizing root causes, trends, and optimization areas without manual effort.

Types of AI Testing

Here are the key types of AI testing based on their purpose, methodology, and AI involvement.

AI in test automation can be applied in different ways, depending on the goal, testing phase, and type of application. Here are the key types:

1. AI-driven Test Case Generation: AI analyzes user flows, past test data, or application behavior to automatically create relevant and optimized test cases.

2. AI-powered Test Execution Optimization: AI prioritizes and selects test cases based on risk, recent code changes, or usage patterns to speed up test cycles.

3. Self-healing Automation: AI automatically detects and fixes broken locators or element changes in the application, reducing manual maintenance.

4. AI-based Test Data Generation: AI generates diverse, realistic, and context-aware test data required for functional, performance, or edge-case testing.

5. Visual Testing with AI: AI compares screen layouts, design changes, and visual differences across devices or browsers to catch UI issues.

6. AI-driven Flaky Test Management: AI identifies flaky or unstable tests by analyzing failure patterns and suggests fixes or filters them during execution.

7. Predictive Defect Analytics: AI analyzes historical defects and test results to predict future failure-prone areas or modules.

8. Natural Language Test Automation (NLP-based): AI allows testers to write test cases in plain English or conversational language, automatically converting them into executable scripts.

9. AI-assisted Test Reporting & Insights: AI generates smart reports, provides root cause analysis, and offers actionable insights based on test results and trends.

How to perform AI Testing?

Testing using AI involves enhancing traditional software testing processes with artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques.

AI doesn’t replace testers but augments their capabilities, enabling smarter decisions, faster feedback, and higher-quality software releases.

Here’s how to perform testing using AI step-by-step:

1. Identify AI-Suitable Areas: Start by pinpointing repetitive, data-heavy, or logic-complex areas where AI can add value, such as test case generation, bug prediction, or visual validation.

2. Collect and Analyze Historical Data: Use logs, past defects, user behavior, and code changes to train AI models. This helps AI detect patterns and predict problem areas in future builds.

3. Automate Test Case Generation: Use AI tools that auto-generate test cases based on application behavior, user flows, or code changes. Tools like Testim, Functionize, or model-based testing frameworks can assist here.

4. Apply Intelligent Test Prioritization: Machine learning algorithms analyze risk and recent changes to prioritize which tests to run first. It saves time and increases defect detection rates.

5. Enable Self Healing Test Automation: AI-powered test scripts can automatically update themselves when UI elements change, minimizing maintenance effort and test flakiness.

6. Use Visual AI for UI Validation: Employ computer vision tools to perform pixel-level UI checks and detect visual regressions that manual or traditional tests may miss.

7. Continuously Monitor and Learn: Integrate AI models into your CI/CD pipeline to continuously learn from test results and improve predictions, coverage, and speed.

AI Strategies for Software Testing

Here are key strategies that harness AI to elevate software quality:

• Intelligent Test Case Generation: AI models can analyze application behavior, logs, and past defects to generate relevant test cases automatically.
• Test Optimization: Machine learning algorithms help prioritize high-risk test cases, reducing test execution time without compromising coverage.
• Predictive Analytics: AI predicts areas of potential failure by learning from historical data and usage patterns, helping teams proactively improve quality.
• Self-Healing Tests: AI-driven test scripts automatically adapt to UI or DOM changes, ensuring test resilience with minimal human intervention.
• Visual and UI Testing: Computer vision-powered testing tools like Applitools Eyes or Percy use AI to detect visual regressions with pixel-level accuracy.
• Anomaly Detection: AI continuously monitors application metrics and flags unusual behavior during test runs or in production environments.

Methods to Implement AI in Testing

Organizations today have multiple ways to implement AI in their testing process depending on their goals, resources, and complexity of the application.

Broadly, there are two key approaches:

1. Building Custom AI Functionality for Testing (From Scratch)

This method involves developing AI capabilities tailored to your product, users, or domain-specific testing challenges. Custom AI solutions are built in-house for unique needs where off-the-shelf tools may not fit.

Common Use Cases

• Auto-generating test cases from user flows, logs, or behavior
• Creating AI models to detect dynamic UI changes and auto-heal locators
• AI-driven test data generation based on real-world usage patterns
• Predictive analytics to detect defect-prone areas early
• Custom NLP-based test case authoring for internal applications

Benefits

• High customization for domain-specific testing
• Seamless integration with internal systems
• Complete control over data, privacy, and model behavior

Challenges

• Requires AI/ML expertise, infrastructure, and R&D
• Higher development and maintenance costs
• Longer implementation timelines
• Requires continuous model training and fine-tuning

2. Leveraging Propreitary AI Testing Tools

Many modern testing platforms like BrowserStack offer built-in AI capabilities, allowing teams to implement AI without building it from scratch. These tools simplify test automation, maintenance, and reporting with AI-driven features.

Benefits

• Fast implementation with minimal setup
• No need for internal AI expertise
• Reduces test maintenance effort
• Easy integration with CI/CD pipelines
• Suitable for Agile & DevOps teams

Challenges

• Licensing or usage costs

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Difference between AI Testing Tool vs Manual Testing Tool

AI Testing Tools and Manual Testing Tools serve the same goal ensuring software quality but they differ significantly in their approach, capabilities, speed, and resource requirements. Here’s a quick comparison highlighting the key differences between them.

Top AI Testing Tools

Below are some of the leading AI-powered testing tools, along with their standout capabilities:

1. BrowserStack

BrowserStack’s Low-Code Automation Tool offers a simple approach to test automation that does not need coding skills.

• Easy Test Creation: The record-and-play feature enables quick test creation without any coding.
• Self-healing Capabilities: Automatically update tests when UI elements change to reduce maintenance.
• Smart Timeouts: Dynamically handles wait times to minimize test flakiness and improve reliability.
• Cloud-based Execution: Runs tests on real devices and browsers directly from the cloud.
• CI/CD Integration: Seamlessly integrates with CI/CD pipelines for fast and scalable automation.

2. Sahi Pro

Sahi Pro is an automation tool with built-in AI features designed to simplify testing for complex and dynamic web applications.

• Intelligent Element Identification: Uses heuristics and AI to identify elements that change dynamically.
• Auto-healing Scripts: Minimizes manual intervention by automatically fixing broken scripts.

3. Diffblue Cover

Diffblue Cover is an AI-based tool that generates unit tests for Java applications, reducing the time and effort for developers.

• Automatic Unit Test Generation: Writes comprehensive tests directly from your source code.
• CI/CD Integration: Seamlessly integrates into pipelines to keep test coverage up to date.

4. EvoSuite

EvoSuite is an open-source AI tool for automatic unit test generation, particularly for Java programs.

• Evolutionary Algorithms: Uses genetic algorithms to evolve test suites that maximize code coverage.
• JUnit Test Output: Generates ready-to-run test classes with assertions.

How does BrowserStack utilize AI

BrowserStack’s Low Code Test Automation offers the best-in-class features to run automation tests without writing a single line of code. Its intuitive and easy-to-use test recorder, captures user actions on the screen and translates them into automation tests.

1. Easy to use Recorder: Low Code Automation’s recorder records our actions and translates them into automation steps. This is a simple record-and-play mechanism and has no learning curve.

2. Auto Generation of Steps: It automatically captures all the test steps as the user performs the action on the screen. It can capture a wide range of user actions like clicking an element, hovering over elements, handling dropdowns, Keyboard actions like Key presses, managing iframes and shadow DOM elements, etc.

3. Test Data: BrowserStack’s AI has the capability to generate Test Data. This feature is crucial and eliminates the need to create and maintain different sheets for Test data.

4. Variables: Users can configure variables when they want to use a value multiple times during the test execution. This helps in eliminating hardcoded values, making the test more readable and self-explanatory and easy to maintain.

5. Self healing Mechanism: Low Code test automation, with its evolving self healing test automation capabilities, offers a sophisticated and proactive approach to automated testing. In the event of element discrepancies, such as changes in the UI, BrowserStack does not just report a failure.

Instead, it actively seeks alternative identifiers or utilizes relative positioning strategies to locate the intended elements. This proactive problem-solving is a step towards self-healing, ensuring tests continue with minimal interruption.

Try BrowserStack’s AI capabilities and transform your testing process. Reduce manual efforts, and embrace change with confidence.

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