Software testing and quality assurance processes are facing major obstacles with the high complexity of modern software systems. Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) are responsible for designing, automating tests, identifying defects, and validating quality to ensure software reliability. But traditional testing methodologies usually take a lot of manual labour and fail to catch up with rapid software iteration cycles. Recently, specifically from Large Language Models (LLMs), new possibilities
arise to optimize important aspects of software testing processes by capitalizing on what AI has to offer in terms of automation and decision support capabilities.This paper investigates from the perspective of AI-Augmented Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs), on how Large Language Models can facilitate intelligent testing and defect triaging. This paper summarizes the possible applicability of LLMs in test case generation, automated test script creation, requirements analysis, documentation generation and defect classification/prioritization. The study also explores how LLMs can
be utilized in failure analysis, root-cause identification, and bug resolution workflows within software quality engineering environments.The analysis elucidates some of the probable advantages offered by AI-assisted testing as follows: increased productivity, reduced testing effort, improved defect management and faster delivery of software. In parallel, some challenges like model hallucination, security issues, reliability issues and ethical consideration are explained. We compare traditional SDET practices with AIAugmented approaches to illustrate the transformational effects of generative frameworks on quality assurance of software.Results indicate that AI-Augmented SDETs might have significant potential in shaping the future of software engineering. Hence it is known to yield optimal testing process as well as software quality in addition faster development cycles by fusing human capabilities with smart language models. Finally, the paper highlights future research directions in autonomous testing systems, self-healing test automation and explainable-AI driven quality engineering.
Keywords : Software testing and quality assurance processes are facing major obstacles with the high complexity of modern software systems. Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs) are responsible for designing, automating tests, identifying defects, and validating quality to ensure software reliability. But traditional testing methodologies usually take a lot of manual labour and fail to catch up with rapid software iteration cycles. Recently, specifically from Large Language Models (LLMs), new possibilities arise to optimize important aspects of software testing processes by capitalizing on what AI has to offer in terms of automation and decision support capabilities.This paper investigates from the perspective of AI-Augmented Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs), on how Large Language Models can facilitate intelligent testing and defect triaging. This paper summarizes the possible applicability of LLMs in test case generation, automated test script creation, requirements analysis, documentation generation and defect classification/prioritization. The study also explores how LLMs can be utilized in failure analysis, root-cause identification, and bug resolution workflows within software quality engineering environments.The analysis elucidates some of the probable advantages offered by AI-assisted testing as follows: increased productivity, reduced testing effort, improved defect management and faster delivery of software. In parallel, some challenges like model hallucination, security issues, reliability issues and ethical consideration are explained. We compare traditional SDET practices with AIAugmented approaches to illustrate the transformational effects of generative frameworks on quality assurance of software.Results indicate that AI-Augmented SDETs might have significant potential in shaping the future of software engineering. Hence it is known to yield optimal testing process as well as software quality in addition faster development cycles by fusing human capabilities with smart language models. Finally, the paper highlights future research directions in autonomous testing systems, self-healing test automation and explainable-AI driven quality engineering.
Author : Rajasekhar Sunkara Senior Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) | Quality Engineering Specialist
Title : The AI-Augmented SDET: A Study of Intelligent Test and Triage Systems Using Large Language Models
Volume/Issue : 2022;04(2)
Page No : 37-53