Since AI-generated outputs, tools, and decisions increasingly shape our daily work, testers face a challenge: how do we keep thinking critically when automation looks so convincing?
AI can generate code, tests, and reports in seconds. But it lacks critical thinking, which remains our responsibility. In a world where automation looks polished and convincing, the real risk for testers is not missing an anomaly but becoming passive reviewers who rely on tools too much. Critical thinking keeps our profession sharp.
It is the ability to question assumptions, analyze evidence, spot biases, and make reasoned judgments in the face of uncertainty. Without it, we risk falling into “”convincing falsehoods”” and accepting outputs that look complete but may be shallow, misleading, or dangerous. In this session, based on insights from our book: Amplified Quality Engineering, I will show how testers can actively develop and improve their critical thinking skills.
Like any skill, it can be trained. Participants will hear about critical thinking through practical tips, examples, and interactive exercises, and practice it live. Together we will challenge assumptions, uncover hidden flaws in “perfect-looking” results, and learn to ask the questions that really matter.
This presentation will cover:
* Why critical thinking is more crucial than ever in an AI-driven era.
* Practical techniques to sharpen reasoning, evaluation, and reflection.
* Exercises and tips that can be applied immediately in daily testing work.
* Real-world examples where critical thinking made the difference between shallow and deep testing. Most importantly, we’ll connect critical thinking to the future of our craft.
Testing as a profession has constantly evolved with technology, from manual scripts to automated regression in CI/CD pipelines to AI-augmented testing. What keeps testers relevant is not the ability to execute tasks faster than a machine but to think deeper than a machine.
Participants will leave with a clear set of practices and a renewed perspective: critical thinking is not a “soft” skill, but the defining skill that ensures we remain indispensable in delivering trustworthy systems. If EuroSTAR 2026 is about “testing at its best,” then critical thinking at its best is what future-proofs our profession.
