Sophia Antipolis, France, 6 May 2026
After 11 years, the ETSI User Conference on Advanced Automated Testing (UCAAT), held from 14 to 16 April 2026, returned to ETSI headquarters, making one of the most successful and interactive editions of the event.
“It felt like one of the most interactive UCAAT editions so far, with strong technical discussions and open exchange between speakers and participants,” noted Marija Jankovic, Chair of ETSI’s Technical Committee of Methods for Testing and Specifications (ETSI MTS).
“We are at a turning point for the QA and testing community,” added Remi Caudwell, Chair of the UCAAT Programme Committee. “AI is now seen as a productivity and quality accelerator for testers rather than a replacement, and automation has become an investment that must prove its value.”
A strong message from UCAAT 2026 was that AI quality is becoming a central testing and standardisation challenge. Keynotes emphasised that regulatory compliance is only a baseline and that the next frontier lies in defining, measuring and continuously evaluating AI quality using testable, use case specific indicators, an area closely aligned with ongoing ETSI MTS work on AI testing methodologies, AI system documentation, and Continuous Auditing-Based Conformity Assessment.
Speakers also highlighted that automation alone does not guarantee quality. While successful CI/CD pipeline and AI-driven testing increase efficiency, they must be complemented by human insight, domain expertise, risk-based thinking, and meaningful traceability to ensure real business value.
Two additional themes stood out. Test data was recognised as a strategic enabler for quality and trustworthy AI, with realistic anonymisation, regulatory compliance (including GDPR and the AI Act) and functional consistency remaining major challenges for many organisations. At the same time, the role of the test manager is evolving, shifting from execution focused tasks towards a more strategic role as quality orchestrator, risk arbiter and transformation enabler.
Overall, the conference showed a clear shift from “more automation” to “better evidence,” reinforcing the value of testing for decision-making when it provides meaningful coverage, realistic and compliant test data, requirements validation, risk-weighted traceability, and continuous feedback from operation. This is particularly relevant for ETSI TS 104 008 on Continuous Auditing-Based Conformity Assessment, as it supports the idea of continuous evidence gathering, traceability, and quality monitoring over time.
#UCAAT once again confirmed its role as a key meeting point where research, industry, and standardisation come together to address real testing challenges. ETSI acts as a bridge between standards and practice, helping the testing community turn technical requirements into methods, frameworks, and approaches that can be applied, tested, and trusted in real-world systems.
To learn more about UCAAT 2026 and to join the effort, visit our event’s page: https://www.etsi.org/events/2540-2026-04-12th-ucaat-user-conference-on-advanced-automated-testing/
