Applause report shows 92% of teams use AI in testing as functional defects rise 29%

• Applause’s 2026 functional testing report flagged a sharp rise in AI use across QA, with 92% of respondents using AI.
• Quality outcomes deteriorated despite adoption, with 29% reporting an increase in the number or severity of functional defects.
• Human input stayed central, with 86% rating human involvement extremely important to functional testing.
• Governance lagged adoption, with 66% reporting documented AI policies; 20% described guidelines as clear and robust.
• Survey data showed AI’s impact remained higher in development than testing, with 79% citing moderate or significant development impact.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Applause App Quality Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on September 30, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.