AI Isn’t the Engineer, You Are | Atlanta Meet-up

AI Isn’t the Engineer, You Are
Atlanta, this one’s special.

We’re excited to kick off The Test Tribe’s very first meetup in Atlanta, and we’re starting with a session that cuts straight through the AI hype.
AI is everywhere in engineering conversations—but here’s the truth: AI isn’t the engineer. You are.

When used well, AI can dramatically amplify skill, speed, and learning. When used poorly, it can just as quickly magnify confusion and bad decisions.

This inaugural Atlanta meetup is about empowerment, fundamentals, and using AI the right way - as a tool that scales human expertise, not a shortcut that replaces it.

Event Details

• Date: 5th March, 2026
• Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Atlanta Time)
• Venue: Peerspace - Building 30, 7730 Roswell Rd , Atlanta, GA 30350

Session: AI Isn’t the Engineer, You Are
Speaker: Charles Alderete

About the Session
In this high-energy, experience-driven talk, Charles Alderete shares his real-world journey using AI to build complex test automation systems.
Rather than “one-shotting” massive engineering tasks, Charles will show why iterative and interactive approaches produce far better results—and how AI works best when guided by strong fundamentals and skilled operators.

You’ll learn:

• Why AI augments and scales skill, but cannot replace it
• How experienced engineers can build high-quality automation faster than ever
• How AI can help overcome knowledge gaps when used as a learning partner
• Why fundamentals matter more now than ever

This is a practical, honest talk about what actually works when humans and AI build systems together.

Key Takeaways

• Fundamentals matter more than ever in an AI-driven world
• AI augments skill—it doesn’t replace it
• The best use of AI is upskilling and learning, not shortcutting thinking
• Iterative, interactive workflows beat “one-shot” AI engineering every time

About the Speaker
Charles Alderete has always been deeply curious about technology. After learning app development at a coding bootcamp in 2016, he spent the last 10 years building end-to-end automated regression suites for Cox Automotive.
Based in Atlanta, Charles balances his engineering work with a passion for learning—currently diving deep into mathematics—along with writing, reading, weight lifting, and volunteering at a local cat adoption center. He lives with his wife and three cats and loves being part of the city’s vibrant tech and community scene.

Why You Should Attend

• Be part of The Test Tribe’s first-ever Atlanta meetup 🎉
• Learn how to use AI to scale skill, not replace it
• Get practical insights from real automation experience
• Avoid hype-driven AI adoption and focus on what actually works
• Connect with Atlanta’s growing QA and engineering community

About The Test Tribe
The Test Tribe is the world’s largest software testing community, empowering testers globally since 2018. With 700+ events and 150K+ members across 130+ countries, we bring testers together to learn, grow, and connect through meetups, conferences, cohorts, masterclasses, and more.
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