Search-Based Software Engineering and AI Foundation Models: Current Landscape and Future Roadmap

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Sartaj, Hassan, Ali, Shaukat, Arcaini, Paolo, Arcuri, Andrea
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Sartaj, Hassan
Ali, Shaukat
Arcaini, Paolo
Arcuri, Andrea
author_facet Sartaj, Hassan
Ali, Shaukat
Arcaini, Paolo
Arcuri, Andrea
contents Search-based software engineering (SBSE), which integrates metaheuristic search techniques with software engineering, has been an active area of research for about 25 years. It has been applied to solve numerous problems across the entire software engineering lifecycle and has demonstrated its versatility in multiple domains. With recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly the emergence of foundation models (FMs) such as large language models (LLMs), the evolution of SBSE alongside these models remains undetermined. In this window of opportunity, we present a research roadmap that articulates the current landscape of SBSE in relation to FMs, identifies open challenges, and outlines potential research directions to advance SBSE through its synergy with FMs. Specifically, we analyze three core aspects: utilizing FMs to enhance SBSE, applying SBSE to advance FMs, and exploring the integration of SBSE and FMs. Furthermore, we present a forward-thinking perspective that envisions the future of SBSE in the era of FMs, highlighting promising research opportunities to address challenges in emerging domains.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_19625
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Search-Based Software Engineering and AI Foundation Models: Current Landscape and Future Roadmap
Sartaj, Hassan
Ali, Shaukat
Arcaini, Paolo
Arcuri, Andrea
Software Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
Search-based software engineering (SBSE), which integrates metaheuristic search techniques with software engineering, has been an active area of research for about 25 years. It has been applied to solve numerous problems across the entire software engineering lifecycle and has demonstrated its versatility in multiple domains. With recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly the emergence of foundation models (FMs) such as large language models (LLMs), the evolution of SBSE alongside these models remains undetermined. In this window of opportunity, we present a research roadmap that articulates the current landscape of SBSE in relation to FMs, identifies open challenges, and outlines potential research directions to advance SBSE through its synergy with FMs. Specifically, we analyze three core aspects: utilizing FMs to enhance SBSE, applying SBSE to advance FMs, and exploring the integration of SBSE and FMs. Furthermore, we present a forward-thinking perspective that envisions the future of SBSE in the era of FMs, highlighting promising research opportunities to address challenges in emerging domains.
title Search-Based Software Engineering and AI Foundation Models: Current Landscape and Future Roadmap
topic Software Engineering
Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.19625