Side, a long‑standing services provider formerly known as PTW, has entered into a six‑month memorandum of understanding with Danish artificial‑intelligence specialist Modl.ai. The agreement sets the stage for a joint effort to create an AI‑powered quality‑assurance (QA) platform that blends Side’s deep testing expertise with Modl.ai’s cutting‑edge machine‑learning capabilities.
Modl.ai, a newer entrant to the gaming sector, was founded in 2018 and secured $1.7 million in seed capital two years later. According to Martin McBride, Side’s chief commercial officer, the partnership “brings together the best of what Side has and the best of what Modl.ai has into a unique solution.” He adds that the gaming industry has been searching for a "holy‑grail" AI‑augmented QA system, and that this collaboration could finally deliver it. Historically, AI‑assisted QA tools required developers to ship entire builds—or even source code—to the testing vendor.
Modl.ai’s earlier offering relied on a plugin and SDK integration, which proved cumbersome and created friction for development teams. Founder Christoffer Holmgard notes that the new approach eliminates the need for any internal access to the game’s code base. Instead, the system treats the product exactly as a human tester would receive it: the game is installed on a device that mirrors the end‑user’s hardware, and the AI runs the title by watching the screen, simulating inputs, and logging every observable event.
A secondary AI layer then analyses the generated data, flags potential defects, and escalates them to a human reviewer for final validation. The first phase, termed "building game knowledge," involves developers uploading assets, design documents, screenshots, and other relevant material. Holmgard explains that the interaction is conducted entirely in natural language: "We just chat with the system about our game, but we also feed it images and design docs so it can build an understanding of the title." Once the AI has a baseline comprehension, developers specify the test objectives.
These can range from traditional test cases to novel scenarios that are particularly suited to AI‑driven exploration. Holmgard stresses that human expertise is still crucial at this stage, as testers must craft prompts and language that guide the AI to perform the desired actions. During a test run, the platform produces a comprehensive bug report that includes textual descriptions, short video clips (referred to as "evidence"), and full log data.
This package is handed to a seasoned QA specialist who reviews the findings and decides how to act on them within the broader production pipeline. One persistent challenge for AI in gaming is distinguishing a genuine bug from an intentional feature.
Holmgard points out that feedback loops from human testers help the system learn these subtleties. "Prompting, pre‑built game knowledge, and ongoing tester feedback all contribute to fine‑tuning the AI’s judgment over time," he says.
Side envisions a future where QA professionals evolve into AI engineers, thereby moving up the value chain. McBride notes that this shift can raise salaries, open new career pathways, and even repatriate jobs to regions where they have previously migrated due to cost pressures.
By equipping staff with AI tools, Side hopes to transform repetitive, low‑skill testing into more strategic, analytical work. "The tool reduces the burden of repetitive tests," McBride explains.
"Smoke tests, regression checks, and other routine verifications can be automated, freeing testers to focus on higher‑level analysis and creative problem‑solving. This leads to more fulfilling careers and better outcomes for our clients." Benedikte Mikkelsen, Modl.ai’s chief product officer, echoes this sentiment: "Many of the current tests are tedious and can be run by a machine. That frees humans to assess gameplay, explore edge cases, and perform more inventive testing, which is where real value lies." Both leaders are clear that AI will not replace QA staff but will augment them. McBride emphasizes that the low cost of manual testing in certain markets makes a full AI takeover impractical.
Instead, the technology serves as a catalyst for professional growth, allowing testers to stay relevant longer and command higher compensation. Side’s philosophy treats AI as a "sliding scale"—a continuum where human involvement never disappears. "There will always be a human in the loop; that’s our ethos," McBride asserts.
The AI handles the monotonous, error‑prone tasks, while humans provide the judgment and creativity that machines cannot replicate. When asked about the types of games the solution currently supports, COO Oliver Deslandes admits the platform is best suited for simpler titles—puzzle games, card games, and other experiences with repeatable mechanics. Fast‑paced, 3D open‑world or fighting games remain a longer‑term goal.
Deslandes adds that early adopters will likely be studios willing to experiment and accept the iterative nature of the technology. In summary, the Side‑Modl.ai partnership aims to combine robust QA expertise with AI automation to streamline testing, elevate the role of human testers, and ultimately deliver higher‑quality games more efficiently.
The six‑month MOU marks the first step in a journey that could reshape how the industry approaches quality assurance, balancing machine efficiency with human insight.