TestGuild Automation Podcast Balancing Speed and Quality in the AI Era with Jim Trentadue
Aug 17, 2025
Jim Trentadue, a veteran QA leader with nearly three decades of experience, shares insights on navigating the evolving landscape of software testing. He emphasizes the need for testers to embrace AI and automation, stating that skills like prompt engineering are now essential. Jim debates the shift of testers towards development and the importance of preserving testing expertise. He also discusses the risks and rewards of AI in testing, the need for operationalizing AI in sprints, and the value of practical mentorship and in-person community events.
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From Accidental Tester To Mentored Pro
- Jim started in testing by volunteering to test a brittle marketing app and discovered a paid career in breaking software.
- He learned formally at AC Nielsen from mentors who taught automation, test cases, and release practices.
Add AI To Your Testing Toolkit
- Learn AI tools (agentic and prompting) and add them to your testing toolkit now.
- Combine AI skills with automation frameworks like Selenium, Cypress, Playwright to increase marketability.
AI Introduces New Security Blindspots
- AI creates new security unknowns that testers must learn, from containers to RAG and LLM integrations.
- Security specialists are rapidly adapting, but the industry hasn't fully mapped AI vulnerabilities yet.