How AI and Machine Learning Are Transforming Test Automation

Baskar Ceri, MD, NI-India & Global Business Manager Senior Director, ADG-BU, Emerson’s Test and Measurement Group - India in an interaction with Industry Outlook, discusses AI-driven test automation in India, focusing on ML adaptability, regulatory compliance, and low-code challenges. He highlights AI’s role in reducing false positives, enhancing efficiency in aerospace and automotive testing, and driving future advancements in autonomous testing across critical industries. With over two decades of experience in aerospace, defense, and railway asset safety, Baskar Ceri also serves as Director for multiple companies, including Apna Technologies & Solutions Pvt. Ltd., where he focuses on advancing technological solutions for critical infrastructure industries.

AI-driven test automation adoption in India is accelerating. How are enterprises integrating AI with automation tools like Selenium and Appium for efficiency?

The adoption of AI in test automation is rapidly evolving in India, with enterprises leveraging AI to enhance workflows and accelerate testing and design processes. AI-driven testing solutions are being introduced to improve automation efficiency. These solutions aim to make test and design processes more seamless, transparent, secure, and effective. While tools like Selenium and Appium are catering toward software/UI test automation, AI-powered platforms with software and hardware capabilities are used to automate testing of aerospace, defense, and automotive systems that go into military/commercial aircraft, satellites, payloads, launchers, EV vehicles, autonomous vehicles, semiconductor chips, and other electronic products. AI-powered automation is being integrated across various industries to optimize testing and validation.

Frequent UI changes disrupt automated tests, impacting efficiency. How is ML enhancing adaptability and reducing maintenance in AI-driven test automation?

Machine learning (ML) plays a crucial role in improving test automation by helping engineers streamline workflows and enhance testing methodologies. In sectors like automotive and aerospace, AI-driven testing solutions are being developed to ensure quicker adaptability to changing software environments. Advanced methodologies are being adopted to facilitate faster testing cycles, which helps in reducing maintenance efforts and improving test reliability despite frequent UI changes.

False positives in AI-powered testing delay deployments in critical applications. What innovations are improving test reliability and minimizing flaky results?

To improve test reliability and reduce false positives, enterprises have been enhancing their AI-driven testing capabilities, particularly in high-stakes applications such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), autonomous vehicle testing, space, and defense. Advanced internal software testing processes have been implemented to increase accuracy, ensuring that test results are more reliable. These innovations focus on thorough validation and reducing flaky results, allowing for more efficient and dependable testing frameworks incorporating a human-in-loop process.

India’s strict compliance laws, like RBI and healthcare regulations, demand robust testing. How are AI-driven frameworks ensuring security and regulatory adherence?

Compliance with India’s stringent regulatory requirements is a key focus area for AI-driven testing. AI-driven testing solutions are actively used in designing and testing critical medical systems, ensuring adherence to strict healthcare regulations. Major clients in the healthcare sector rely on these solutions to meet compliance standards for medical devices. While RBI-specific regulations are predominantly for fintech, the focus on secure and validated test solutions demonstrates a commitment to ensuring regulatory adherence across industries, particularly in aerospace, healthcare, and semiconductor testing.

Low-code/no-code platforms are transforming development but pose AI test automation challenges. How is AI ensuring flexibility, accuracy, and overcoming customization limitations?

While the low-code/no-code platforms are transforming the software industry, in Test & Measurement too, AI is accelerating software and hardware test development. AI-driven tools are being implemented to make the testing process more efficient and adaptable. The emphasis on enhancing flexibility, improving accuracy, and streamlining complex workflows suggests that AI-powered frameworks are being designed to handle dynamic and evolving testing environments, thereby overcoming customization limitations.

Autonomous testing and AI-driven script generation are emerging trends. What breakthroughs will define the next five years of test automation in India?

The future of test automation in India will be driven by AI-powered advancements in various industries, particularly in the automotive, aerospace, and semiconductor sectors. The increasing role of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), AI-driven aerospace testing, and AI-integrated workflows will shape the next phase of autonomous testing. Emerson’s Test & Measurement business is actively investing in AI to develop innovative testing methodologies that enable faster, more intelligent validation processes. These advancements will enhance efficiency and reliability in automated testing, positioning AI as a key driver of future breakthroughs in the Indian test automation landscape.