Why Testers Are Safe Despite AI Hype - Mitko Mitev

From test planning to defect clustering: where AI already saves you 30% effort

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"People should stop asking on interviews what's the difference between class and object. You should probably ask: What is MCP?" - Mitko Mitev

This time I talk to Mitko Mitev, about how AI is reshaping our work as testers, without replacing us. Mitko shows exactly where AI tools save real time across test planning, test case generation, and exploratory testing, and why human expertise remains non-negotiable for context, business logic, and validation. We go into the shift from writing scripts to instructing agents in plain language, how ISTQB's new AI syllabi prepare testers for what's coming, and why waiting another year to explore AI might already be too late.

With over 30 years in software quality assurance and more than 20 years as a Project and Test Manager, Mitko Mitev is recognized as one of South East Europe’s leading software testing experts.

A dedicated advocate for the QA and testing professions, he has been instrumental in establishing and promoting international standards through his work with the ISTQB and as President of the South East European Testing Board (SEETB). Mitko also serves as Chief Editor of Quality Matters magazine and Chair of the SEETEST conference, both focused on advancing global best practices in software quality.

Today, Mitko continues to develop and refine educational materials, books, and articles that help professionals deepen their expertise in software testing. He is also the founder and owner of Quality House – a leading outsourcing and consultancy company with offices in Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, proudly celebrating 21 years on the market and delivering world-class independent testing services.

Highlights:

• AI won't replace testers but shifts focus from mechanical tasks to creative thinking, validation, and training.
• AI generates test cases and data in days instead of months, saving 20-40% effort time.
• Plain language AI interfaces let business people write tests, expanding who can do test automation.
• Test automation coding skills still matter—someone must verify AI-generated scripts are correct and functional.
• Start learning AI testing now, not next year—software development speed now demands AI-assisted testing.