Report
State of DevOps Report: AI in Testing Edition 2026
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Executive Summary
Based on a survey of 820 global IT decision-makers, purchase influencers, and DevOps practitioners, this report benchmarks how enterprises are applying AI across test creation, execution, and analysis while operating in hybrid environments.
The data shows shifting responsibilities. Developers are contributing more to test authoring, while QA increasingly leads analytics, orchestration, and governance. Cost attribution and skills gaps remain barriers, even as compliance automation and secure-by-default practices mature.
The report also shows how measurement is evolving beyond execution metrics toward outcomes, including defect escape, customer-reported defects, and lead time to validated release. It provides recommendations to improve governance, cost discipline, and continuous quality as AI usage scales.
Our findings reveal a landscape defined by hybrid infrastructures, shifting responsibilities, and a critical need for better measurement frameworks.
Download the report now and unlock the full potential of AI to transform your testing strategy and drive measurable success.
This report is part of the 2026 State of DevOps Report. Originally pioneered by Puppet, this decade-spanning report has drawn insights from over 40,000 technology practitioners and leaders, making it an unparalleled resource for understanding the evolution and impact of DevOps.
Key Takeaways
- AI Is Mainstream, but Costs Are Rising: AI-augmented testing has become standard practice, delivering significant gains in speed and quality. However, cost and governance challenges remain pronounced, with many organizations seeing operational expenses rise as complexity increases.
- Hybrid Infrastructures Dominate: Most organizations have adopted hybrid cloud and on-premises models to balance flexibility, control, and scalability.
- Shift in Roles and Responsibilities: Developer involvement in test creation is rising, and QA teams are pivoting from execution to analytics and governance, fostering greater alignment with business objectives.
- Compliance and Security Remain Critical: Organizations are automating compliance workflows and embedding secure-by-default practices, though skill gaps and time pressures persist.
- Performance and Business Value Drive Strategy: Leading teams are emphasizing cost tracking, customer-centric metrics, and data-driven insights to maximize ROI.
- Actionable Guidance Included: The report delivers practical steps for optimizing hybrid infrastructures, building skills, standardizing governance, and measuring strategic outcomes—all essential to remain competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.
This report provides the actionable insights organizations need to navigate these trade-offs, optimize their testing strategies, and ensure that their investment in quality drives tangible business value.
