Meet the humble and lighthearted team leader of the Multiverse - Katalon AI Team to unwrap his wealth of insights on the journey of working with AI. Besides the lively moments that bring laughter to everyone he meets with a great sense of humor, this is an opportunity for us to sit down and listen to the sharing of expertise and revealing of his longtime hobby that we rarely get to know from this cheerful friend. We're sure this will be an enjoyable conversation.
Q. Please share a bit about your journey at Katalon and your current responsibilities.
Tuan: It has been more than 2 years so far, starting with the position of Software Engineer. Currently, I am at the senior level and in charge of the team leader position of the Katalon AI Team, which we named ourselves the “Multiverse”. Our team contributes to developing all features with “AI label" for the company, and the scope is slightly different from other teams. I would say we play the role of the “ferryman", to deliver the outcomes of what our fellow R&D Team and Mario Team initiated to the world, which means implementing and integrating them into AI features of Katalon products.
Q. You worked for TestOps before, how did you end up working in the AI team?
Tuan: I think I have fulfilled my role at TestOps. When the company had a new project that very much aligned with my direction and career aspiration, plus I could see my transferable experiences would make value in the new role, I treated this team rotation as an opportunity for personal growth in which I could conquer new challenges.
Q. How would you explain the “Katalon Platform with AI-powered capabilities” in a non-tech language?
Tuan: Normally, a testing process would require a lot of time and effort to write and execute tests manually. But with the Katalon Platform, it becomes much easier. Katalon Platform can conduct an entire software testing cycle for you: Creating tests, Executing them, analyzing the test results, and even identifying the root causes of issues that occurred during test execution.
Instead of writing and running tests manually, users can now use an intuitive interface of Katalon to create tests with just a few clicks and automate test execution to run tests repeatedly. In essence, the Katalon AI is designed to augment testers' capabilities. By embracing AI-assisted testing, testers can optimize their efforts, and deliver higher-quality software faster. I hope this explanation is helpful for non-tech friends to understand this technical stuff simply.
Q. What excites you the most about working in the AI field?
Tuan: The field of AI is constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of what technology can achieve. Working in this dynamic field means having the opportunity to stay updated with the latest techniques, algorithms, and technologies. Moreover, in my point of view, there is no right or wrong information, it is only reasonable or unreasonable depending on what humans provided. *talking broadly about the knowledge base of AI*.
Q. Can you share an interesting or challenging AI project you've worked on recently?
Tuan: We haven't finalized the product's official name yet, but now at Katalon we call it Autonomous Test Generation. Whatever you want to test, you just need to let it know and then wait for the result. It has been the most memorable one so far because we got to do a lot of things that have no precedent in the market, Katalon is a pioneer company. The process of developing it has had to go through many challenges. But after all, we're currently running the private beta and I'm happy to get everyone's interest finally.
Q. Are there any specific AI applications or technologies that you find fascinating? And how do you manage to stay up-to-date with the development in the AI field?
Tuan: We often use ChatGPT, Copilot, and Machinet. But importantly, learning how to use them effectively and wisely has a crucial impact on our work. Hands-on experience with AI tools and technologies is essential to understanding their capabilities and limitations. That's why our team usually does organize casual meetups to share AI knowledge or update tips to use them as effectively as possible and stay abreast of the latest developments.
Q. Who are you, not a Software Engineer?
Tuan: Hmm, can I be a bit greedy as I like so many things, a spy or a hacker grinning squinting face ? If I must choose just one, then I now would become a photographer. I have started this hobby for almost 10 years. The majority of us may know my passion for taking photos, but I think you can't guess the style I do most is macro photography (an extreme close-up of something small). I enjoy zooming in on a swarm of ants, the moss in their habitat, etc. Exploring the world through macro photography allows me to capture the intricate details and hidden beauty that often go unnoticed. It's fascinating how a different lens can offer a fresh perspective and reveal the wonders of the natural world.
Q. You play the role of the activist in creating fun amongst Katalians apart from work, share a bit of your thoughts on the motivation behind taking the initiative despite your busy work.
Tuan: I embrace the fun at work. The motivation is the laughter of my fellow Katalians heart hands. I also love being the pioneer to initiate activities that represent our cool culture. Despite having a busy work schedule, I believe that injecting fun into the workplace is vital because it helps to create a more vibrant and engaging atmosphere.