AI stress testing
Stress testing for AI you've already deployed
Most AI and automation gets tested for whether it works. Almost nobody tests how it fails. That's the job.
Who this is for
- Businesses where a wrong answer costs money: customer-facing chatbots, AI intake, quoting, scheduling, and document processing.
- Automation agencies that want an independent check before handing a system to a client.
- Software companies whose customers have started asking hard questions about their AI.
Options
Failure-Mode Snapshot
A fast look at one workflow or one chatbot.
- dependency map;
- 10 to 15 normal and abnormal tests;
- a short findings memo ranked by what would hurt most.
Stress Test
One AI-enabled system, end to end.
- failure-mode analysis;
- 25 to 40 test cases, including controlled failures in staging (expired credentials, outages, duplicate events, bad inputs);
- plain-English report with evidence;
- prioritized fixes;
- one retest.
Handoff Package
For agencies and their clients.
- fault tree for the top three ways the system could hurt the business;
- failure-mode register;
- who-fixes-what chart;
- credentials and dependency inventory;
- restore runbook.
Ongoing Stress Testing
For systems that change.
- monthly regression run;
- review before significant changes;
- quarterly failure drill;
- incident review when something goes wrong.
Every engagement is scoped in writing and quoted at a fixed price before work begins. Implementation of recommended fixes is quoted separately.
How I test
- Written scope and authorization first. Nothing gets tested that isn't in writing.
- Staging by default. If production testing is ever needed, it's planned, limited, and approved in advance.
- Your backups get verified before any failure testing.
- Minimum access, removed when the work is done. Test data you provide is deleted at the end of the engagement.
What this is not
- This is not a penetration test or security assessment. If I notice something that looks like a security problem, I'll flag it and recommend a qualified security firm.
- This is not a compliance audit or certification. The method draws on established frameworks, but I don't certify anything as compliant.
- This is not legal advice. If a finding raises a legal question, I'll tell you to take it to your attorney.
FAQ
What platforms do you work with?
Common ones include n8n, Make, Zapier, website chatbot platforms, document AI services, and custom agents built on the major model providers. If yours is unusual, ask.
Do you need access to production?
Usually no. Most testing happens in a staging copy or with test accounts. Where that's not possible, we agree in writing on exactly what gets touched.
What if you don't find anything serious?
Then you have evidence that it holds up, which is worth having when a customer or partner asks. You'll also get the list of what was tested.
Can agencies bring me in under their name?
Yes. Ask about referral and white-label arrangements.
How long does it take?
A Snapshot is usually about a week. A Stress Test usually takes two to three weeks, depending on how fast access gets set up.