ChatGPT and Human Synergy in Black-Box Testing: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

In recent years, large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, have been pivotal in advancing various artificial intelligence applications, including natural language processing and software engineering. A promising yet underexplored area is utilizing LLMs in software testing, particularly in black-box testing. This paper explores the test cases devised by ChatGPT in comparison to those created by human participants. In this study, ChatGPT (GPT-4) and four participants each created black-box test cases for three applications based on specifications written by the authors. The goal was to evaluate the real-world applicability of the proposed test cases, identify potential shortcomings, and comprehend how ChatGPT could enhance human testing strategies. ChatGPT can generate test cases that generally match or slightly surpass those created by human participants in terms of test viewpoint coverage. Additionally, our experiments demonstrated that when ChatGPT cooperates with humans, it can cover considerably more test viewpoints than each can achieve alone, suggesting that collaboration between humans and ChatGPT may be more effective than human pairs working together. Nevertheless, we noticed that the test cases generated by ChatGPT have certain issues that require addressing before use.