Side, a long‑standing services provider formerly known as PTW, has entered into a six‑month memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Denmark‑based artificial‑intelligence specialist Modl.ai. The agreement sets the stage for a joint effort to create an AI‑driven quality‑assurance (QA) platform that blends Side’s deep industry experience with Modl.ai’s cutting‑edge technology. Modl.ai, founded in 2018, entered the gaming market with a modest seed round of $1.7 million. While the startup has experimented with AI‑assisted testing before, its earlier tools required developers to hand over entire game builds—or even source code—through a plugin‑and‑SDK integration.
That approach proved cumbersome and, as co‑founder Christoffer Holmgard admits, “became difficult over time.” The new system eliminates the need for any internal code access. Instead, developers provide the product exactly as they would to a human tester or, ultimately, to a consumer. The AI runs the game on a comparable device, watches the screen, simulates key inputs, records every interaction, and then hands the resulting data set to a second AI layer that flags potential bugs. Human reviewers then decide whether each issue warrants action.
The first phase of the workflow is what Modl.ai calls “building game knowledge.” Developers upload assets—such as sprites, level designs, or design documents—and converse with the AI in plain language. Holmgard explains that the conversation can include text, images, or any other relevant material, allowing the system to develop a nuanced understanding of the game’s mechanics and objectives. Once this knowledge base is in place, the development team defines the testing scope.
This can range from classic test cases to novel scenarios that are specifically tailored to the strengths of the AI engine. Holmgard emphasizes that human expertise remains essential at this stage: “You need to shape the prompts and language so the AI does the right thing.” When a test run—referred to as a “session” by Modl.ai—is complete, the platform generates comprehensive bug reports. These include textual descriptions, short video clips that serve as visual evidence, and full log files. The reports are then passed to a human QA specialist who reviews the findings and determines the appropriate next steps for the production pipeline.
One persistent challenge for AI in gaming is distinguishing a genuine defect from an intentional feature. Holmgard notes that feedback loops from human testers help the system learn these subtleties over time. “Prompting, pre‑built game knowledge, and ongoing tester feedback all combine to fine‑tune the AI’s judgment,” he says. Side sees this collaboration as a catalyst for redefining QA careers.
Chief Commercial Officer Martin McBride envisions QA staff evolving into AI engineers, moving up the value chain and earning higher wages. By automating repetitive, low‑skill tasks—such as smoke tests and routine verifications—testers can focus on strategic analysis, creative exploration, and higher‑order problem solving.
McBride argues that this shift could even bring jobs back to regions where they have previously migrated due to cost pressures, because the new roles demand more specialized, better‑paid talent. McBride also stresses that AI will not replace human QA workers but will augment them.
“There will always be a human in the loop—that’s our ethos,” he says. The AI handles the tedious, error‑prone portions of testing, reducing human fatigue and the likelihood of oversight. This, in turn, raises overall quality and efficiency. Side’s Chief Operating Officer Oliver Deslandes adds that the current iteration of the technology is best suited for simpler titles—puzzle games, card games, and other experiences with repeatable mechanics—rather than fast‑paced 3D open‑world or fighting games.
He acknowledges that more complex genres will require further development, but he encourages early adopters to join pilot programs to help shape the roadmap. Modl.ai’s Chief Product Officer Benedikte Mikkelsen echoes the sentiment that AI frees testers from monotonous routines, allowing them to concentrate on evaluating gameplay, creativity, and user experience.
She points out that the value proposition lies not in eliminating human input but in reallocating human talent to tasks that truly benefit from human intuition and insight. Overall, the Side‑Modl.ai partnership aims to deliver a hybrid QA solution where artificial intelligence supplies speed, consistency, and data‑driven detection, while seasoned QA professionals provide contextual judgment and final decision‑making. By treating AI as a “sliding scale” rather than a binary replacement, Side hopes to create a sustainable model that improves test coverage, cuts costs, and opens new career pathways for its workforce.
The six‑month MOU will serve as a proving ground for this approach, with the goal of scaling the technology to more sophisticated games and broader markets as the collaboration matures.