Revolutionizing Risk: The Influence of Generative AI on the Insurance Industry

July 5, 2023

This News Covers

 

The insurance industry is increasingly leveraging generative artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance underwriting processes and due diligence, especially in the face of rising cyber threats. AI tools are being used to automate administrative tasks, which traditionally consumed a significant portion of underwriters' time, leading to efficiency gains and deeper insights. However, the adoption of AI also comes with challenges, including the risk of fraudsters using AI to create fictitious businesses or carry out fraud.

As AI becomes more prevalent in the insurance sector, there is a growing call for an industry-wide consortium to address ethical issues related to AI use. Cloverleaf Analytics, an AI-driven insurance intelligence provider, has initiated a group called the "Ethical AI for Insurance Consortium" to facilitate discussions on AI ethics. The consortium aims to develop a code of conduct for AI and machine learning use in insurance, with a focus on preventing biases, ensuring privacy and safety, and maintaining accuracy.

Before fully immersing into generative AI, insurers need to address the core problem of data, particularly in relation to legacy systems. Boris Krumrey, Global Vice President of Automation Innovations at Ui Path, emphasized the need for insurers to tackle these systems before implementing generative AI into their businesses.

Finally, while the insurance industry is eager to explore the benefits of generative AI tools, a survey commissioned by InRule Technology reveals that customers may not be ready to embrace this technology as part of their insurance experience. The survey found that nearly 59% of respondents tend to distrust or fully distrust generative AI, and 70% still prefer to interact with a human. This highlights the need for insurance companies to carefully consider customer attitudes and readiness when implementing AI technologies.

There have been few noteworthy developments related to AI usage in Insurance industry and its adoption by Insurers.

AI is transforming the insurance industry in several significant ways. Here are some noteworthy developments:

  1. AI for Underwriting and Due Diligence Amid Cyber Threats: AI is being used to automate administrative tasks, which traditionally consumed a significant portion of underwriters' time. This leads to efficiency gains and deeper insights. However, the adoption of AI also comes with challenges, including the risk of fraudsters using AI to create fictitious businesses or carry out fraud.
  2. Insurance Consortium to Tackle AI Ethics: As AI becomes more prevalent in the insurance sector, there is a growing call for an industry-wide consortium to address ethical issues related to AI use. Cloverleaf Analytics, an AI-driven insurance intelligence provider, has initiated a group called the "Ethical AI for Insurance Consortium" to facilitate discussions on AI ethics.
  3. Solving Core Problem of Data Before Immersing into Generative AI: Before fully immersing into generative AI, insurers need to address the core problem of data, particularly in relation to legacy systems. Boris Krumrey, Global Vice President of Automation Innovations at Ui Path, emphasized the need for insurers to tackle these systems before implementing generative AI into their businesses.
  4. Customer Readiness for Generative AI: While the insurance industry is eager to explore the benefits of generative AI tools, a survey commissioned by InRule Technology reveals that customers may not be ready to embrace this technology as part of their insurance experience. The survey found that nearly 59% of respondents tend to distrust or fully distrust generative AI, and 70% still prefer to interact with a human.

In addition to these developments, AI is also being used in the insurance industry for risk assessment, claims processing, and crafting individualized policies. AI applications range from underwriting to claims processing, and they are transforming the way insurers operate and interact with their customers. However, it's important to note that the successful implementation of AI in insurance requires careful consideration of ethical issues, data quality, and customer attitudes towards AI.

According to marketsandMarkets report the Global Insurance Analytics Market size is expected to grow from USD 8.8 billion in 2020 to USD 20.6 billion by 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 15.1% during the forecast period.

Future Evolution of Generative AI in the Insurance Industry

It would not be an understatement to say that Generative AI is set to revolutionize the insurance industry over the next 5-10 years.

The technology's ability to analyze vast amounts of data and generate insights will enable insurers to offer highly personalized services to their customers. For example, generative AI can be used to create superior recommendations from deeper customer insights, use big data like never before, and put data control back in the consumer's hands.

The integration of Microsoft Azure OpenAI and Azure Power Virtual Agents into Sapiens' offering, a global software solution provider, will enable insurers to easily navigate complex documents. The inclusion of generative AI solutions will enhance customer interactions across various domains and languages, significantly reducing the call volume for live agents. Additionally, AI can support underwriters in their daily operations and expedite the processes of claims handling and fraud detection.

Preparing for the Changes

 

Companies, governments, and individuals can prepare for these changes by investing in AI technologies, fostering collaborations between AI and insurance companies, and promoting education and training in AI technologies. For instance, Sapiens International Corporation and Microsoft have announced a strategic partnership aimed at harnessing the power of generative AI in the insurance industry. The collaboration's main objective is to utilize AI's potential to improve efficiency and customer service in the insurance industry.

Despite the promising future, several challenges need to be overcome. One of the major challenges is the complexity of AI applications, which requires advanced technical expertise. The development and implementation of these applications require significant investment and technical expertise.

What is Generative AI and how does it function?

 

Understanding Generative AI

Generative AI is a subset of artificial intelligence that leverages machine learning techniques to generate data models that resemble or mimic the input data. In other words, it's a type of AI that can create new content, whether that's an image, sound, or text, that is similar to the data it has been trained on.

How Does Generative AI Function?

Generative AI works by training on a large amount of data and then using that training to generate new data. The most common type of generative AI models are Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), which consist of two parts: a generator and a discriminator.

 

The generator creates new data instances, while the discriminator evaluates them for authenticity; i.e., whether they belong to the actual training dataset or were created by the generator. The goal of the generator is to generate data that the discriminator cannot distinguish from the real data, while the discriminator tries to get better at distinguishing real data from the generated data. This creates a kind of competition where both parts improve over time, leading to the generation of high-quality data.

How will generative AI impact Insurance?

Generative AI has the potential to significantly transform the insurance sector, improving customer engagement, streamlining operations, and driving market growth. However, insurance companies need to prepare for this transformation by investing in the necessary technology and training, and developing strategies to leverage generative AI effectively.

Personalized Customer Engagement

Generative AI is revolutionizing the way insurance companies engage with their customers. According to Forbes, generative AI can create personalized content for customers, enhancing their experience and engagement. It can generate personalized emails, messages, and other forms of communication that are tailored to the individual customer's needs and preferences. This level of personalization can significantly improve customer satisfaction and loyalty, leading to higher retention rates and increased revenue for insurance companies.

Streamlining Claims Processing

Generative AI can also streamline the claims processing in the insurance sector. It can automate the process of reviewing and processing claims, reducing the time and effort required to settle claims. This can lead to faster claim settlements, improving customer satisfaction and reducing operational costs for insurance companies.

Revolutionizing Insurance Types

Generative AI is set to revolutionize various types of insurance. Based on the impact of the technology in the US, property and casualty insurance will be the most transformed and health insurance will be the second-most impacted. However, life insurance is expected to be least impacted by generative AI, especially in the short term.

Promising Use Cases

Over the course of the next three years, there will be many promising use cases for generative AI. The most valuable and viable are personalized marketing campaigns, employee-facing chatbots, claims prevention, claims automation, product development, fraud detection, and customer-facing chatbots. Although there are many positive use cases, generative AI is not currently suitable for underwriting and compliance.

Market Growth

The market for generative AI in the insurance sector is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. According to a report by Enterprise Apps Today, the generative AI in insurance market size is expected to be worth around USD 5543.1 million by 2032. This growth will be driven by the increasing adoption of generative AI by insurance companies to improve their operations and customer engagement.

 

Preparing for the Future

While generative AI's rise was sudden, it will take time for insurers to fully embrace its power and potential. Insurance providers need to prepare for the rise of generative AI by investing in the necessary technology and training their staff to work with this new technology. They also need to develop strategies to leverage generative AI to improve their operations and customer engagement.

Which major Insurance companies are adopting generative AI?

The adoption of generative AI by major insurance companies is poised to reshape the industry, enhancing operational efficiencies, improving decision-making, and transforming customer experiences. Here are five significant players in the insurance sector that are making strides in this area:

  1. Lemonade (New York City, USA)
    Key Offerings: Peer-to-peer insurance, Property and Casualty Insurance
    Investment Raised: Approximately $480 million
    Description: Lemonade leverages AI and behavioral economics to provide insurance to homeowners and renters. The firm uses AI in underwriting and claims processing, enabling it to deliver a seamless, fast, and hassle-free insurance experience. The company is notably investing in generative AI to automate a multitude of its business processes.
  2. Chubb (Zurich, Switzerland)
    Key Offerings: Property and Casualty Insurance, Life Insurance, Reinsurance, and Insurance Brokerage Services
    Description: Chubb is a global insurance company offering a wide range of insurance products. Recognizing the potential of generative AI, Chubb has signaled readiness to deploy these tools at scale, intending to enhance various facets of its operations, such as underwriting and claims processing.
  3. Liberty Mutual (Boston, USA)
    Key Offerings: General Insurance, Health Insurance, Life Insurance
    Description: Liberty Mutual is a diversified global insurer offering a broad array of insurance products and services. Through its initiative, Solaria Labs, Liberty Mutual is experimenting with AI and machine learning, notably developing an auto damage estimator that uses AI to swiftly assess vehicle damage.
  4. Clearcover (Chicago, USA)
    Key Offerings: Auto Insurance
    Investment Raised: Approximately $329.5 million
    Description: Clearcover is a digital car insurance provider that leverages advanced technology to offer lower prices and a streamlined customer experience. The firm's AI tool, ClearAI, automates the claims process, providing quick and efficient responses.
  5. Ping An Insurance (Shenzhen, China)
    Key Offerings: Life Insurance, Property and Casualty Insurance, Banking, and Financial Services
    Description: Ping An is one of the world's leading insurance and financial services companies. It's dedicated to using AI, big data, and cloud technologies to transform its operations. The company's AI initiatives include the use of generative models for underwriting and risk assessment, as well as for automated customer service.
 

The adoption of generative AI in these companies will likely yield numerous advantages, such as more personalized offerings, efficient claim settlements, and objective risk assessment, driving customer satisfaction. However, they must navigate challenges like data security, regulatory compliance, and the need for human oversight. As these organizations continue to innovate, they will shape the future of the insurance industry, paving the way for the broader application of AI.

How are Insurance providers adopting Generative AI?

According to an article on Forbes, insurance companies are leveraging generative AI to engage their customers in new and innovative ways. The technology is being used to create personalized content that resonates with individual customers, thereby enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction. The use of generative AI in customer engagement is not just limited to creating content but also extends to designing personalized insurance products and services. The technology's ability to analyze vast amounts of data and generate insights is enabling insurance companies to understand their customers' needs better and offer them tailored solutions.

In a pioneering initiative, Sapiens, a global provider of software solutions for the insurance industry, has partnered with Microsoft to leverage generative AI in the insurance sector. The partnership aims to use generative AI to automate and streamline various processes in the insurance industry, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costs. The initiative is expected to have a significant impact on the way insurance companies operate and serve their customers.

The Indian Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector is increasingly embracing generative AI, according to an article in The Hindu. The technology is being used to automate various processes, enhance customer service, and improve risk management. The adoption of generative AI in the Indian BFSI sector is a testament to the technology's potential to transform the insurance industry.

 

According to a report on Enterprise Apps Today, the generative AI in the insurance market is expected to be worth around USD 5543.1 million by 2032. This projected market worth indicates the significant potential of generative AI in transforming the insurance industry.

ChatGPT, a conversational AI model built by OpenAI, is one of the most talked-about technologies of 2023 and has piqued the interest of insurance industry leaders. The technology is set to revolutionize various types of insurance, with property and casualty insurance expected to be the most transformed, followed by health insurance. However, life insurance is expected to be least impacted by generative AI, especially in the short term. Over the next three years, there will be many promising use cases for generative AI in insurance, including personalized marketing campaigns, employee-facing chatbots, claims prevention, claims automation, product development, fraud detection, and customer-facing chatbots. However, generative AI is not currently suitable for underwriting and compliance.

Top use cases for Insurance using generative AI?

  1. Personalized Marketing Campaigns: Generative AI can be used to create personalized marketing campaigns. By analyzing customer data, AI can generate personalized messages, offers, and recommendations that are more likely to resonate with individual customers. This can lead to increased customer engagement and conversion rates.
  2. Employee-Facing Chatbots: Generative AI can be used to create chatbots that assist employees in their work. These chatbots can answer questions, provide information, and automate routine tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more complex tasks.
  3. Claims Prevention: Generative AI can analyze data to identify patterns and trends that may indicate a high risk of a claim. By identifying these risks early, insurance companies can take proactive measures to prevent claims from occurring.
  4. Claims Automation: Generative AI can automate the claims process, making it faster and more efficient. AI can analyze claim data, make decisions about the validity of claims, and even automate payouts, reducing the workload for human claims adjusters.
  5. Product Development: Generative AI can be used in product development to create new insurance products that are tailored to the needs of specific customer segments. By analyzing customer data, AI can identify unmet needs and opportunities for new products.
  6. Fraud Detection: Generative AI can be used to detect fraudulent claims. By analyzing claim data, AI can identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate fraudulent activity. This can help insurance companies to reduce losses due to fraud.
  7. Customer-Facing Chatbots: Generative AI can be used to create chatbots that interact with customers. These chatbots can answer customer questions, provide information, and assist with tasks such as purchasing insurance or filing a claim. This can improve the customer experience and reduce the workload for human customer service representatives.
 

However, it's important to note that generative AI is not currently suitable for underwriting and compliance due to the complexity and regulatory requirements of these tasks. As the technology continues to evolve, it's possible that this may change in the future.

Which top countries are witnessing adoption of AI in Insurance?

  1. United States: The U.S. is leading the way in the application of AI in the insurance industry. Companies like Lemonade, State Farm, and GEICO are using AI for claims processing, underwriting, fraud detection, and personalized marketing. The development is driven by the country's mature insurance market, significant technology investment, and a large pool of AI professionals.
  2. United Kingdom: The UK is another major hub for the application of AI in the insurance industry. Companies like Aviva and Admiral are integrating AI into their operations to streamline processes and enhance customer service. The UK government's commitment to supporting AI development is also a significant factor.
  3. China: China is aggressively leveraging AI to modernize its insurance sector. Companies like Ping An and Zhong An are using AI for underwriting, claims processing, customer service, and risk management. The country's commitment to becoming a global leader in AI by 2030 is accelerating the adoption.
  4. Germany: Germany, with its robust insurance industry and strength in technology, is adopting AI in its insurance sector. Companies like Allianz are using AI for automating claims management and detecting fraud.
  5. Japan: Japanese insurance companies, like Sompo and Tokio Marine, are investing in AI technologies for predictive analytics, customer service, and risk management. The adoption is driven by Japan's advanced technology sector and the government's commitment to digitizing the economy.
  6. Canada: Canadian insurance companies, like Manulife and Sun Life, are using AI for automating various insurance processes and enhancing customer service. The development is supported by Canada's strong AI research capabilities and the government's supportive stance on AI.
 

Other countries, such as India, Australia, Singapore, and France, are also witnessing significant adoption of AI in the insurance sector. The rate of adoption varies depending on factors such as market maturity, regulatory environment, technological infrastructure, and the presence of skilled AI professionals.

How are insurance companies using generative AI to create personalized policies and pricing models?

  1. Risk Profiling: Using AI algorithms, insurance companies can create detailed risk profiles for individual customers. These profiles can incorporate a wide array of data points, from traditional factors like age and driving history for car insurance, to less conventional metrics derived from social media activity or IoT devices data.
  2. Dynamic Pricing: Once a detailed risk profile is created, AI can be used to determine a custom price for the insurance policy that reflects the customer's individual risk level. This goes beyond the traditional, somewhat rigid pricing tiers and allows for a much more flexible, personalized pricing system.
  3. Personalized Policies: Generative AI can be used to design insurance policies that cater specifically to an individual's needs. Based on the data collected, the AI can suggest different coverage options or adjust the policy terms, essentially generating a custom policy for each customer.
  4. Predictive Analytics: Generative AI can also utilize predictive analytics to anticipate customer needs and changes in their risk profile. This can help insurers adjust policy terms proactively and notify customers of potential risks or changes in their policy.
  5. Behavioral Adjustments: AI can also recommend certain behavioral changes to customers that could reduce their risk level and, by extension, their insurance premiums. This could be based on any number of factors, from a person's exercise habits affecting their health insurance, to their driving behavior influencing their car insurance rates.
  6. Anomaly Detection: AI systems can help identify discrepancies or anomalies in customer behaviors or claims. This allows for dynamic adjustment of premiums, rewards for low-risk behaviors, and identification of potentially fraudulent activities.

By incorporating generative AI into their operations, insurance companies can offer more tailored, flexible, and attractive policies to their customers, thereby improving customer satisfaction and retention. It should be noted, however, that the use of AI in this way also raises important questions about data privacy and discrimination, which insurers must carefully navigate.

What challenges does the insurance industry face in implementing generative AI?

  • Challenge 1: Suitability for Certain Tasks

    While generative AI has many promising use cases in the insurance industry, it is not currently suitable for all tasks. For instance, underwriting and compliance are areas where generative AI may not be the best fit. This is because these tasks often require a deep understanding of complex regulations and the ability to make nuanced decisions based on a wide range of data, which may be beyond the capabilities of current AI technologies.

  • Challenge 2: Time for Full Adoption

    The rise of generative AI in the insurance industry has been rapid, but it will take time for insurers to fully embrace its power and potential. This could be due to a variety of factors, including the need for further technological development, the need to train staff in how to use and manage AI systems, and the need to build trust in AI among customers.

  • Challenge 3: Impact on Different Types of Insurance

    Generative AI is set to revolutionize various types of insurance, but the impact will not be uniform across all types. For example, based on the impact of the technology in the US, property and casualty insurance is expected to be the most transformed, and health insurance will be the second-most impacted. However, life insurance is expected to be least impacted by generative AI, especially in the short term.

How does generative AI contribute to the growth of peer-to-peer insurance models?

  1. Personalized Marketing Campaigns: Generative AI can significantly contribute to the growth of peer-to-peer (P2P) insurance models by enabling personalized marketing campaigns. The technology can analyze vast amounts of data to understand individual customer preferences and behaviors, allowing insurance providers to tailor their marketing efforts to each customer's unique needs and interests. This level of personalization can increase customer engagement and satisfaction, leading to higher conversion rates and customer retention.
  2. Employee-Facing Chatbots: Generative AI can also be used to create employee-facing chatbots in P2P insurance models. These chatbots can assist employees in answering customer queries, processing claims, and performing other tasks, thereby improving efficiency and productivity. For instance, ChatGPT, a conversational AI model built by OpenAI, has been identified as a promising tool for this purpose.
  3. Claims Prevention and Automation: Another significant contribution of generative AI to P2P insurance models is in the area of claims prevention and automation. The technology can analyze data to predict potential risks and suggest preventive measures, helping to reduce the number of claims. Furthermore, it can automate the claims processing workflow, reducing the time and effort required to handle claims and improving the customer experience.
  4. Product Development and Fraud Detection: Generative AI can also aid in product development and fraud detection in P2P insurance models. It can analyze market trends and customer feedback to help insurance providers develop new products that meet customer needs. Additionally, it can identify patterns and anomalies in claims data that may indicate fraudulent activity, helping to prevent fraud and reduce losses.
  5. Customer-Facing Chatbots: Finally, generative AI can be used to create customer-facing chatbots in P2P insurance models. These chatbots can provide customers with instant responses to their queries, offer personalized recommendations, and guide them through the insurance purchasing process. This can enhance the customer experience and increase customer satisfaction and loyalty.
 

However, it's important to note that while generative AI has many promising use cases, it is not currently suitable for underwriting and compliance in the insurance industry. It will take time for insurers to fully embrace its power and potential. Therefore, insurance providers need to prepare for its rise by investing in the necessary technology and training their staff to work with it.

Potential Applications of Generative AI Across Various Industries

  1. Art and Design: Generative AI can be used to create new pieces of art or design. For instance, it can generate new images, music, or even architectural designs. An example of this is the artwork created by the AI model GAN, which was sold at an auction for $432,500.
  2. Healthcare: In healthcare, generative AI can be used to create synthetic patient data that can be used for research without violating patient privacy. It can also be used to generate 3D models of organs or other body parts for surgical planning or medical training.
  3. Retail and Fashion: In the retail and fashion industries, generative AI can be used to create new designs for clothing or other products. It can also be used to generate realistic images of products for use in online stores.
  4. Manufacturing: Generative AI can be used in manufacturing to optimize the design of products or components, leading to improved performance and reduced costs. For example, generative design software can create a range of design options that meet specific goals and constraints, allowing engineers to choose the best design for their needs.
  5. Entertainment: In the entertainment industry, generative AI can be used to create new music, write scripts, or even generate entire movies. For example, the AI model OpenAI's GPT-3 has been used to write articles, poetry, and even entire plays.
 

Generative AI is a powerful tool that can create new data and content across a wide range of industries. As this technology continues to improve, we can expect to see even more innovative applications in the future.

The Future of Generative AI in Insurance

  1. Evolution of Generative AI in Insurance

    Generative AI is set to revolutionize various types of insurance. Based on the impact of the technology in the US, property and casualty insurance will be the most transformed and health insurance will be the second-most impacted. However, life insurance is expected to be least impacted by generative AI, especially in the short term.

  2. Potential Obstacles and Challenges

    While generative AI's rise was sudden, it will take time for insurers to fully embrace its power and potential. The technology is still in its early stages, and there are several challenges that need to be addressed. These include data privacy concerns, the need for regulatory compliance, and the potential for job displacement. Additionally, there are technical challenges related to the complexity of insurance processes and the need for accurate and reliable AI models.

  3. Preparing for the Changes

    To prepare for these changes, insurance providers need to invest in AI training and education for their employees. They also need to develop strategies for managing data privacy and regulatory compliance. Furthermore, they should start exploring partnerships with AI technology providers to gain access to the latest AI technologies and expertise.

In conclusion, while generative AI presents numerous opportunities for the insurance industry, it also brings several challenges. However, with the right preparation and strategies, insurance providers can successfully navigate these challenges and harness the power of generative AI to transform their operations and services.

 

References

  1. Generative AI: Ready To Engage Your Insurance Customers
  2. Sapiens and Microsoft: Pioneering Generative AI for the Insurance Sector
  3. Indian BFSI sector increasingly embracing generative AI: Microsoft
  4. ChatGPT and Generative AI in Insurance: Reality, Hype, What's Next, and How to Prepare

Editor's Pick

Information and Communication Technology

Apple Vision Pro China Launch Confirmed
April 2, 2024

Information and Communication Technology

Insurtech Funding News - Coverdash raises USD 13.5 Million
April 2, 2024

PODCASTS

Sustainable Digital Transformation & Industry 4.0

Sustainable Digital Transformation & Industry 4.0

Sanjay Kaul, President-Asia Pacific & Japan, Cisco, and host Aashish Mehra, Chief Research Officer, MarketsandMarkets, in conversation on unraveling 'Sustainable Digital Transformation and Industry 4.0'

11 July 2023|S2E12|Listen Now

Future of Utilities with Thomas Birr from E.ON

Generative AI

Prasad Joshi, Senior Vice President-Emerging Technology Solutions, Infosys, and host, Vinod Chikkareddy, CCO, MarketsandMarkets, in exploring the recent advances in AI and the generative AI space.

7 Nov 2023|S2E13|Listen Now

Insurance Analytics Market

$8.8 BN
2020
$20.6 BN
2026

Download Whitepaper

Insurance providers adopting Generative AI

Insurance companies are leveraging generative AI to engage their customers in new and innovative ways. The technology is being used to create personalized content that resonates with individual customers, thereby enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction.

The adoption of generative AI by major insurance companies is poised to reshape the industry, enhancing operational efficiencies, improving decision-making, and transforming customer experiences.

STAY TUNED

GET EMAIL ALERT
Subscribe Email

Follow IndustryNews by MarketsandMarkets

DMCA.com Protection Status