"We view AI as a sliding scale. There will always be a human in the loop; that's our ethos": Why Side has signed an MOU with Modl.ai to use AI for QA

Services provider Side has teamed up with Danish AI firm Modl.ai to develop an AI-enabled quality assurance system. The deal, a memorandum of understanding, is set to last for six months. Side, previously known as PTW, is already a notable figure in the services sector. Modl.ai, on the other hand, is a more recent addition to the games market, having been founded in 2018 and raising $1.7 million in seed funding two years later.

According to Side's chief commercial officer Martin McBride, the collaboration aims to combine the strengths of both companies to create a unique solution. Currently, AI-enabled QA technology requires developers to send entire builds for testing, which causes friction and becomes difficult over time. Modl.ai's new system, however, doesn't need access to any game internals. Instead, it receives the product as it would be given to a QA tester, testing it on a device similar to the consumer's.

The process begins with 'building game knowledge', where developers upload assets and converse with the AI to understand the game. They then define what they want to test, ranging from classic test cases to more advanced AI-compatible options. The system generates bug reports based on the session, including texts, video snippets, and log data, which are then reviewed by human QA specialists.

Holmgard from Modl.ai explains that the AI system learns from feedback provided by QA testers, distinguishing between bugs and features based on their input. This system, he believes, will change the landscape of quality assurance jobs globally, allowing QA staff to move up the value chain into AI engineering roles. McBride from Side echoes this, stating that the tool will reduce the burden of repetitive tests, enabling QA testers to focus on more strategic tasks and enjoy a more fulfilling career.