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EuroSTAR Conference

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Track Talk, T6

Is Psychology the Next Major Testing Skill for AI?

Chris Ambler

11:30 - 12:15 CEST, Tuesday 16th June

AI is no longer science fiction. It’s science fact. Many people are talking about AI tools that are capable of testing but there is less discussion around testing AI itself. There is also a lot of talk about ethics, but what does that mean? Ethics are just a set of ‘morals’ grouped into a framework.

The problem here is that morals are different in people, communities and countries, so by definition, ethics can vary too. Understanding these different moral values such as deontology, utilitarianism and virtue ethics and how they differ between people helps us to understand the complexity of our new world.

This new understanding leads to a need to rethink our role as testers. As AI systems move from tools and processes to decision-makers, the more traditional boundaries of testing are no longer enough. We can’t simply validate inputs and outputs now that algorithms are shaping outcomes with ethical, cultural, and psychological implications. Drawing on insights from my book Psychology of AI Decision Making (BCS Publishing), this talk shows why testers must go beyond technical skills and actively train in psychology.

That means understanding not just bias and decision-making shortcuts, but also how sociocentric issues, cultural values, and sociotechnical dynamics influence AI behaviour. Testers must also recognise the risks of anthropomorphism, where people unconsciously attribute human motives to systems that are only running code.

Testing AI is no longer just about functionality and checking inputs and outputs. It’s now about creating training data to set up systems in the first place and anticipating unintended consequences, surfacing hidden nudges and the butterfly effect. There also needs a ‘human in the loop’ process to provide trust by constant reviewing and resetting of internal patterns to align with human values.

What you will learn

  1. Why psychology is central to testing AI: cognitive bias, decision-making models, and cultural differences
  2. How sociocentric values and sociotechnical factors shape AI outcomes and testing priorities
  3. Lessons from Psychology of AI Decision Making that apply directly to the evolving role of testers

Session Details

  • Intermediate
  • 45mins
  • Includes 15 min Q&A
  • Ethical implications of AI
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Check out this video from Chris Ambler to hear more about his talk on Is Psychology the next major testing skill for AI?

We look forward to welcoming you to EuroSTAR 2026.

Session Speakers

Chris Ambler

Chris Ambler Consulting, UK

Chris Ambler, FBCS, GMBPsS, combines 45 years of IT leadership in QA and testing with honours degrees in Computer Science and Psychology. He has led both global and local teams in industries such as telecoms, finance, transport and defence. Latterly leading European teams at both Electronic Arts and Microsoft Game Studios.

He now mentors future leaders, assesses software testing apprentices, and is a published author of ‘Psychology of AI Decision Making’. Now retired from the day job, he challenges how AI shapes our future, provoking debate, inspiring action, and giving back to his industry with insight, integrity, passion, and vision.

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