Budapest, Quality, and a Spark of AI

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A few weeks ago, together with Maria Vasiliki Anastasopoulou and Ioannis Psaronikolakis, we had the opportunity to attend HUSTEF 2025 in Budapest, representing the TalentLMS QA Team. It was an inspiring experience — full of ideas, conversations, and new perspectives on what the future of software quality truly looks like, especially as artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of our daily work.

The event brought together QA professionals, engineers, and thought leaders from all around the world, all exploring one big question: How can we deliver better quality in a world that’s changing faster than ever? The main message that resonated throughout the conference was clear — AI, strategy, and human-centered quality.

AI-assisted testing isn’t about replacing testers; it’s about empowering them. When human intuition meets AI-driven insights, we gain the ability to detect issues earlier, explore deeper scenarios, and focus on what truly matters — delivering meaningful value to users. It’s not just about speed or automation; it’s about amplifying human potential through smarter collaboration between people and technology.

Another recurring theme was that automation needs strategy, not scale. More tests don’t automatically mean better quality. What really makes a difference is alignment — ensuring that every testing effort connects to risk, purpose, and desired outcomes. Quality isn’t measured by how much we automate, but by how effectively we guide automation toward impact.

And of course, user experience (UX) remains the ultimate destination. Functionality alone no longer defines success; the way users feel, navigate, and interact with a product is where true quality lives. As testers, our role is evolving from “finding bugs” to shaping experiences — helping create products that are not just reliable, but enjoyable and meaningful.

Beyond the technical sessions, the Career Clinics provided valuable guidance for personal growth and self-reflection. They offered a reminder that continuous improvement isn’t only about learning new tools or techniques — it’s also about understanding where to focus our energy, how to adapt, and how to keep evolving as QA professionals in a fast-moving industry.

Looking back, HUSTEF wasn’t just a conference — it was a moment of clarity. A reminder that quality is not just a practice, but a mindset. And I feel genuinely grateful to share this journey with such talented teammates — people who inspire, challenge, and make every step of this evolving QA landscape worth exploring. 🚀

Manos Makromallis Manos Makromallis - QA Engineer @Epignosis

Born and raised in Athens, I studied French Philology & Literature at the University of Athens before turning my language and communication skills toward the tourism industry. Eventually, I found my true calling in the SaaS world, diving into engineering and quality — one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. When I’m not geeking out over systems and processes, you’ll probably find me singing (badly), sharing drinks with friends, or laughing at a stand-up comedy night.