Test Transcendence and the AI Apocalypse | Toronto Meetup

Agentic, generative, and evocative AI is no longer a passing trend-it’s reshaping how software is built, delivered, and trusted. As AI systems become more autonomous, opaque, and influential, the risks extend far beyond bugs and failures. They reach into ethics, bias, accountability, and societal trust.

In this powerful and provocative keynote, Robert Sabourin challenges testers to rethink their role in an AI-driven world. Testing is no longer just a technical activity-it is an act of social responsibility. As guardians of risk, uncertainty, and quality, testers are uniquely positioned to protect not just products, but people and institutions.

This is not a talk about fear-it’s a wake-up call, and an invitation to rise.

📅 Date: 4th February 2026 (Wednesday)

🕕 Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST

🏢 Location: 125 E Liberty St, Toronto

🗺️ Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mwJf4zRSkXQa2v9w5

Speaker: Robert Sabourin

AI is redefining what we mean by products, services, and even decision-making itself. Its promise of speed and intelligence is intoxicating-but beneath it lies a rapidly growing landscape of risk.

In this keynote, Robert Sabourin explores how software testing becomes a critical line of defense in an era where autonomy, bias, and opacity threaten trust itself. Drawing from decades of real-world experience, Rob brings these ideas to life through compelling stories, case studies, and pragmatic strategies for testing agentic and generative AI systems.

This is a high-energy, reality-grounded session that goes beyond tools and techniques. It’s about purpose.

As AI systems grow more powerful, testers must transcend traditional roles. The future demands professionals who can model risk, navigate uncertainty, and communicate value to leaders, regulators, and society at large.

The apocalypse is not a prophecy-it’s a call to action.

• Understand how AI is redefining risk, quality, and assurance in modern socio-technical systems
• Recognize the ethical and social responsibility of testing in an AI-driven world
• Learn concrete strategies for testing agentic and generative AI responsibly
• Discover how testers can evolve from defect finders to trusted advisors and change agents
• Leave inspired by decades of practical wisdom-and the belief that testing can truly make a positive impact

Robert Sabourin has over four decades of experience in software engineering and testing. A globally respected educator, consultant, and keynote speaker, Rob is known for his energetic, story-driven, and deeply thought-provoking presentations.

He bridges technical excellence with human insight, helping teams around the world elevate quality, accountability, and trust in the software systems that increasingly shape our lives. His work consistently challenges professionals to think bigger-not just about systems, but about their responsibility to society.

• Gain a rare, big-picture perspective on AI, risk, and trust
• Learn how testing intersects with ethics, governance, and societal impact
• Be inspired to elevate your role in an AI-first world
• Hear from one of the most respected voices in global testing
• Connect with Toronto’s QA and tech community at the 11th Toronto Meetup

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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