SmartBear Adds AI Test Generation to ReadyAPI

SmartBear is rolling out a new AI-powered testing feature for ReadyAPI to help development teams generate API tests faster without sacrificing control over compliance and software quality.

The company announced Monday that ReadyAPI now includes an AI test-generation capability designed to speed up API testing by up to 80%.

Software teams turn to AI coding as demand increases

The feature arrives as software teams increasingly rely on AI-assisted coding tools that can dramatically accelerate development cycles, creating pressure on QA and testing teams to keep pace. 

SmartBear says its latest update is built to address that imbalance by automating repetitive testing tasks while maintaining human oversight.

“AI has accelerated code development velocity by 10X, but testing infrastructure has not kept up, creating a crisis that threatens application integrity across every organization. ReadyAPI’s new AI test generation capability gives teams the confidence to adopt AI in a way that fits their environment, especially for organizations navigating strict security and compliance requirements,” said Vineeta Puranik, CPTO, SmartBear.

Read more about SmartBear’s approach to its channel and alliance partners in this interview with SmartBear’s SVP of Global Channel Partnerships, Joe Tong.

Focus on control and compliance as AI governance becomes a priority

SmartBear is positioning the new feature as more than just a speed upgrade.

According to the company, organizations can choose whether to enable or disable the AI-powered testing functionality depending on their internal policies or regulatory obligations. 

The company says that flexibility could appeal to industries with strict compliance standards or to organizations that remain cautious about broader AI adoption.

The infrastructure supporting the feature is also AI-agnostic, allowing companies to maintain compliance requirements regardless of whether AI-assisted testing is enabled.

ReadyAPI’s AI testing system includes different operational modes tailored for specific testing scenarios. A performance mode is designed to handle larger test cases and improve throughput, while an accuracy mode is intended for testing more complex business logic. 

The company also says the feature supports no-code automation through natural language prompts.

SmartBear highlights growing ‘testing gap’

The launch also ties into broader concerns around software quality in the age of AI-generated code.

SmartBear cited internal research showing that 70% of software experts say application quality has already declined due to AI-accelerated development, while 60% reported encountering software quality issues in the past year as development speed outpaced testing capabilities.

The company says the growing divide between rapid code generation and slower traditional testing processes is creating what it describes as “testing debt” across development teams. 

With the latest ReadyAPI release, SmartBear says it wants to help enterprises maintain application integrity throughout the software lifecycle while continuing to expand its broader API quality platform.