AIQualityEngineering
In our recent release of the Global Quality Index 2025/26, we surveyed more than 200 quality leaders to find out how businesses are adapting their quality processes to deliver faster, smarter and more resilient digital experiences.
What emerged from this research was a clear message: the demand for faster releases and a seamless customer experience is only expected to grow, and more organisations are embracing the fact that quality is no longer the responsibility of just a single testing team.
Most importantly, the rise of AI is changing how quality engineering is conducted, and what was seen as a ‘future consideration’ just 12 months ago has now become a huge part of how software is delivered.
Ask quality leaders what keeps them up at night and you’ll get a bunch of different answers, though one stands out among them: How to increase speed without sacrificing quality?
However, the numbers don’t just point to an issue of speed. Alignment is also an issue, with many quality leaders reporting friction between teams or a lack of clarity.
Addressing these challenges requires more than just a technical fix. While Agile or DevOps practices can help, a broader approach that incorporates cultural and organisational strategies is also necessary.
Even as quality organisations grapple with these issues, Customer Experience (CX) remains a top priority, with 57% of leaders identifying it as their main goal. This means the challenge isn’t just how fast teams can ship, but how reliably they can deliver with confidence every time.
One way that quality teams have responded to the demand for faster delivery is by adopting AI.
While the growing presence of AI tools won’t be a surprise to anyone, the speed with which they’ve gained traction is much more impressive.
The value of these tools can’t be understated either. Those surveyed have reported multiple benefits from using Generative AI, from increased speed to improved accuracy. Even better, only 11% of respondents see a reduced need for human testers, which suggests that AI will complement quality engineers instead of replacing them.
The bigger concern is with how these tools are being implemented. Although many organisations are deploying AI across their business functions, our survey found they don’t always understand how to ensure their quality. This means quality engineering must now test AI tools and systems themselves, not just use them.
So, how are businesses planning to address the rise of AI and the realities of quality delivery?
One response has been greater investment. In fact, 38% of organisations expect their quality and testing budgets to increase over the next twelve months. This represents a significant shift from 2024.
Alongside these investments, quality leaders are also rethinking the skills needed to deliver effectively in this new environment.
Looking at the data, 2025 could mark a real turning point for quality engineering.We’re seeing a move away from slow, manual testing toward a smarter, more connected approach to quality engineering. With AI, automation and skilled teams coming together, quality is becoming something that supports faster delivery and better customer experiences.
For quality leaders, the goal now is to make these changes stick — by building confidence and consistency into every release.
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