Despite fears of job loss, quality assurance professionals are leaning into AI faster than ever.
In fact, testers that use AI tools are twice as likely to fear being replaced by them, a paradox that underscores the profession’s evolving relationship with automation.
Yet those with stronger AI fluency are not just adapting, they are testing faster, leveling up their skills, and reclaiming joy in the work that once burned them out, according to a new report that was shared with QA Financial.
That shift is fuelled by both urgency and intent, researchers found in Katalon’s 2025 State of Software Quality Report.
They concluded that as AI reshapes expectations, 82% of QA professionals say AI skills will be critical in the next 3 to 5 years, and teams are already adapting.
“The shift toward AI-powered testing isn’t just accelerating, it’s inevitable,” said Vu Lam, the current chief executive officer of Katalon.
“It validates what we’ve long believed: QA professionals, the unsung heroes of software innovation, are navigating intense pressure to move faster without compromising quality, and their impact is finally being recognised.”
He added: “Looking ahead, the future of quality will belong to teams who can combine AI fluency with human insight to lead testing into a smarter, more adaptive era.”
“QA professionals, the unsung heroes of software innovation, are navigating intense pressure to move faster without compromising quality, and their impact is finally being recognised.”
– Vu Lam
Lam also pointed out that those with higher AI fluency excel not just at using new tools, but in test planning, problem-solving, and applying AI concepts in real-world scenarios.
To close the skills gap, two out of every three teams are investing in continuous learning, while more than half are adopting AI-driven testing practices to stay ahead.
And for the most advanced teams, QA is no longer just a safeguard, it is a business enabler.
In fact, three out of four respondents say aligning QA with business goals has helped improve customer retention.
Katalon’s 2025 State of Software Quality Report surveyed over 1500 quality professionals, from engineers to senior executives, across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
The report explored the challenges, capabilities, and innovations shaping today’s testing landscape–and how QA teams are evolving from execution-focused roles to strategic drivers of business value.
The research team found that testers who blend AI, automation, and manual testing skills with critical thinking are leading the next wave of innovation in software quality.
“High-maturity QA teams that leverage these hybrid testers are 1.3 times more likely to adopt AI-augmented test optimisation and 1.8 times more likely to implement intelligent test maintenance practices like self-healing tests, compared to lower-maturity teams,” the report stated.
Moreover, they said that “happier” QA pros aren’t just more satisfied, they’re more effective.
According to the report, they’re 1.4 times more likely to implement advanced automation solutions and 1.4 times more likely to say AI has improved efficiency and automation in their roles.
“As organizations modernise, there is a clear connection between job satisfaction and innovation in software quality,” the team wrote.
When looking at AI and the future of QA, AI-driven testing is gaining momentum, with 61% of QA teams adopting it to automate repetitive tasks and free up time for more strategic work.
Forward-looking teams are embracing advanced automation tools, augmented with AI, with the potential to make testing more adaptive, efficient, and intelligent.
Beyond AI, they are also investing in performance and load testing tools (34%) and test management platforms (30%) to further optimize workflows and scale quality with confidence.
Finally, the research showed that high-performing teams are modernising on three critical fronts: 61% are adopting AI-driven tools, 51% are using modern development practices, and 40% are investing in continuous testing.
“Together, these shifts are accelerating release cycles while preserving what matters most: trust, reliability, and quality at scale,” the report concluded.
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