# Adam Mackay *AI Researcher · Author · Safety-Critical Systems Specialist* Where AI capability meets the industries in which software failure has consequences beyond a bad quarterly report. [Read the Newsletter](/newsletter) [Get in Touch](/contact) ## What I Do For 28 years I've worked where advanced technology meets physical consequence: AI, autonomous systems, and safety-critical software in aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and defence. Currently I'm **[Head of AI and Principal Strategic Advisor at QA-Systems](https://linkedin.com/in/adammackay)**, looking at how language models change the economics and safety calculus of testing safety-critical software. I also write, speak, and work with a small number of organisations on strategic questions. --- ## Recent Work **Speaker** — [Avionics & Testing Innovations](https://avionicsandtesting-innovations.com/speaker/adam-mackay/), London, June 2026: *Shadow Testing: The Secret AI Adoption Already Happening in Your Supply Chain* **Webinar** — [Unit Testing at the Speed of Modern Development](https://joraltechnologies.com/blogs/webinars/webinar-unit-testing-at-the-speed-of-modern-development-without-breaking-certification), April 2026 (Joral Technologies / QA Systems) **Speaker** — [Embedded World Conference](https://www.embedded-world.de), Nuremberg, March 2026: *Embedded Software Testing with fundamental skills and AI* **Speaker** — [Embedded Testing 2026](https://pretalx.com/ebedded-testing-26/speaker/UNTDQQ/), February 2026: *From Manual to AI-Assisted: Practical Automation of Unit Test Generation in Safety-Critical Systems* **Workshop co-chair** — [HiPEAC 2026 FORECAST for TechNexus](https://www.hipeac.net/events/sessions/8257/forecast-technexus-functional-engineering-domains-supporting-cross-disciplinary/#/), Krakow, January 2026 **Expert panellist** — [One Young World](https://www.oneyoungworld.com) Global Forum, Bath 2025 (AI ethics and global policy) **Contributing author** — [HiPEAC Vision 2025](https://www.hipeac.net/vision/2025/) (European AI research priorities) **Contributing author** — [HiPEAC Vision 2026](https://www.hipeac.net/vision/2026/#/) (EU-funded white paper guiding European computing policy) — [acknowledgements](https://www.hipeac.net/vision/2026/acknowledgements/#/) **Cover article** — *[The Measurement Gap](https://www.heise.de/select/ix/2026/6/2609809170334426604)*, [heise iX](https://www.heise.de/select/ix/2026/6) 06/2026: why the return on enterprise AI investment stays invisible in economic indicators ([English version](https://theaimonitor.substack.com/p/the-measurement-gap)) **Published** — *[Embedded Software Testing: Developing Reliable Software from Fundamentals to AI-based Techniques](/book)* (BPB Publications, 2026) — lessons from 28 years in aerospace, automotive, nuclear, and medical domains **Newsletter** — *[The AI Monitor](https://theaimonitor.substack.com)* reaches 2,500+ technical professionals and policymakers --- ## On the Horizon **Webinar** — *Unit Testing and AI-Assisted Test Case Generation for Safety-Critical Embedded Software*, 16 September 2026 (QA Systems with Developair) **Speaking** — Embedded Software Engineering Kongress, Sindelfingen, December 2026: *Trust, but Measure — evidence-based architecture for AI coding agents in safety-critical embedded systems* (Accountable AI session) **Writing** — *Safe Enough* is a reported nonfiction project in development about who gets to permit AI to act where mistakes can cause physical harm. [Follow the research](/newsletter) through The AI Monitor. --- ## Explore - [Writing & Books](/writing) — books, essays, and articles - [Speaking & Media](/speaking) — keynotes and conference appearances - [The AI Monitor](/newsletter) — strategic analysis - [About](/about) — background and experience - [Contact](/contact) — get in touch