AI-Powered ATF Testing: How Now Assist for Test Creation Saves Developers Time

[Kristy Merriam]

If you’ve ever spent hours crafting ATF (Automated Test Framework) test cases, you know how tedious the process can be. Manually clicking through test steps, ensuring proper QA coverage, and debugging complex workflows—it all adds up. But what if you could generate ATF tests automatically from simple text instructions?

That’s exactly what Now Assist for Test Creation does.

What is Now Assist for Test Creation?

This AI-driven feature leverages natural language processing to convert developer instructions into fully automated ATF test cases. Instead of manually building tests step by step, you can simply describe what you want, and Now Assist does the rest.

Key Features:

✅ Save time – Reduce test creation time by up to 80%
✅ Improve accuracy – Generate structured test steps instantly
✅ Ensure QA coverage – Automate tests for various ServiceNow components

How It Works: A Quick Demo

During the latest Creator Toolbox episode, ServiceNow experts showcased how Now Assist simplifies ATF testing. With a simple text prompt like:

"Create a new user named Bill McDermott, assign them the ‘itil’ role, and generate an incident record with the description 'My New Test Record’."

Now Assist automatically builds the test steps, filling in key details like form submission, field updates, and data validation. The result? A fully functional test that you can review, tweak, and run instantly.

Writing Better Prompts: Best Practices

Since Now Assist relies on AI, the quality of your test depends on how well you structure your prompt. Here are some tips:

✔️ Be Specific – Instead of “Create a user and assign a role,” say “Create a user named John Doe and assign the itil role.”
✔️ Use Exact Values – Instead of “Set price to 800”, say “Set price to $800.”
✔️ Define Actions Clearly – Specify whether to create, update, or validate fields.

What’s Next for Now Assist?

ServiceNow is continuously expanding Now Assist’s capabilities. Upcoming improvements include:

🚀 Support for Service Portal forms and lists
🚀 Out-of-the-box app testing
🚀 AI-driven test generation directly from user stories

Final Thoughts

Now Assist for Test Creation is a game-changer for ServiceNow developers looking to streamline their ATF workflows. By leveraging AI, you can reduce manual effort, improve test reliability, and free up time for more critical development tasks.

Want to see it in action? Watch the full Creator Toolbox episode now!