News
AI and tech investment to drive next phase of growth for insurance brokers, says Moody’s Ratings
Artificial intelligence (AI) and technology investment are expected to become increasingly important drivers of productivity and profitability for insurance brokers, according to Moody’s Ratings, the global credit ratings, research and risk assessment agency.
While the sector is facing a period of slower growth as insurance pricing softens and economic conditions become more challenging, Moody’s believes firms with strong data capabilities and successful technology strategies will be best positioned to improve efficiency, strengthen client relationships and support long-term earnings growth.
Moody’s says brokers that have invested in standardising internal data and integrating information from acquired businesses are in the strongest position to deploy AI across their operations.
The agency expects AI to play a growing role in automating administrative processes, including policy submissions, policy reviews and billing, while also helping firms identify new business opportunities, assess client risk requirements and respond more effectively to changing insurer appetites.
AI In Insurance: Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain
Leaders in insurance: Aflac, PURE, Liberty Mutual, Cognizant talk about AI and the future of insurance
The future of insurance may look a lot like The Wizard of Oz. Customers see the lights, and magic, but – what most companies hope is -- not the machinery behind the curtain. As artificial intelligence becomes more embedded in insurance, the goal is not to make technology the star; the goal is to make the customer experience faster, more seamless, and more human.
AI will not replace the human side of insurance. Instead, the winners will be companies that use AI behind the scenes while keeping people, judgment, and trust at the center. Here are the three messages all industry executives should understand, as insurance impacts practically every vertical.
- Insurance Must Move from Reactive to Preventive
For years, insurance has largely been reactive. Something happens, a claim is filed, and the company responds. But Martin Leitch, CEO of PURE Insurance, a specialty P&C insurer serving high net worth families, believes the industry’s future depends on becoming far more proactive.
“One of the big trends we’re focused on is moving the industry from being very reactive—you show up when the consumer needs you—to a proactive partnership model. If you get prevention and mitigation right, losses become less frequent and less severe, enabling more competitive premiums over time. That’s the outcome we’re working toward.”
Insurtech Insights USA 2026 Concludes, Calling on the Industry to Fix Its Data Foundation As it Integrates AI
Insurtech Insights USA 2026 officially concluded today following two days of main stage programming, technology showcases, workshops, and sustained networking at the Javits Center in New York City.
The insurance industry’s leading global conference brought together more than 6,000 carriers, MGAs, reinsurers, investors, and technology builders as the industry established that AI’s place in insurance is settled, and explored the readiness of the data infrastructure beneath it.
Across keynotes, panels, and live technology showcases spanning underwriting, claims, distribution, life and health, and specialty commercial lines, messaging consistently surfaced that AI is only as powerful as the data foundation it sits on. As the industry pushes past the efficiency of AI conversation and into accuracy, speed, and competitive differentiation, the organizations pulling ahead are the ones who are doing the strong foundational work.
“Every year this conference gets bigger and the conversations get sharper. That is not a coincidence,” shared Kristoffer Lundberg, CEO of Insurtech Insights. “The people in this room are the ones driving change in insurance globally, and the work they are doing, not just in AI, matters. The staircase has been built. The insurers who move with speed, trust, and the right controls in place are already climbing it. The data foundation has to match the ambition, but trust, whether in the tools or in our insurer relationships, has to match, too.”
State News
Bill to Make Property Insurance More Affordable Signed Into Law
DENVER, CO – The Governor today signed into law legislation to drive down homeowners insurance premiums and prevent damage from hailstorms, windstorms and otherDENVER, CO
SB26-155, will help stabilize Colorado’s homeowners insurance market and make property insurance more affordable through the creation of a grant program to fortify roofs against costly wind and hail damage.
"This law is about saving Coloradans money and preventing costly hail and wind damage that raises prices for everyone," said Mullica. “Homeowners insurance premiums have skyrocketed in recent years, squeezing household budgets and costing families thousands each year. This law is a commonsense approach to reduce costs and make Colorado homes more resilient and disaster-ready for years to come.”
“Our law will save Coloradans money on their property insurance premiums, protect homes from damage, and make our communities more resilient to extreme weather events,” said McCluskie. “Years ago, we created the FAIR Plan to offer property insurance of last resort to Coloradans who live in areas at-risk of wildfires and other natural disasters. As climate change creates increasingly damaging hailstorms, all homeowners pay the price. This law helps prevent property damage from hail and wind storms to save all homeowners money on their insurance premiums.”
AI in Insurance
Insurers' Readiness Gap on AI | Insurance Thought Leadership
An April 2026 AM Best survey of more than 150 rated insurers and MGAs found that 45% still cite data readiness as the top barrier to AI deployment, even among analytically mature organizations.
Insurance carriers have invested years building trusted analytics platforms. Data warehouses and governed metrics now deliver consistent loss ratios, premium trends and claims data that actuaries, underwriters and executives rely on. Yet when these same carriers launch AI initiatives, results often disappoint. Underwriting assistants hallucinate risk scores, fraud models produce unexplainable flags and catastrophe projections miss critical context buried in broker narratives and loss-run documents.
YOUR ANALYTICS LAYER WORKS - FOR WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR
Analytics-ready data serves human decision-makers asking backward-looking questions. Actuaries calculating reserves, underwriters reviewing portfolios, compliance teams preparing filings and executives setting strategy all need consistent, summarized and explainable information. The central question is always the same: what happened? FULL COMMENTARY
Anil Venugopal is chief technology officer at PremiumIQ
Insurance customers are ready for voice AI. Are agencies ready to deliver it?
The real driver isn't AI adoption, it's rising expectations for speed, availability and simplicity.
Automated phone systems have long been synonymous with frustration. The experience is familiar: "Press one for billing. Press two for claims." Then another menu. Then another transfer. Then another wait.
These communication experiences have shaped how many insurance agencies consider automation and now artificial intelligence. Many have worried that introducing AI into customer interactions could damage relationships, frustrate policyholders, or make service feel impersonal. In an industry built on trust and human relationships, agencies have been cautious about replacing live conversations with technology.
But today's voice AI assistants are fundamentally different from the rigid phone trees consumers have dreaded. Newer AI systems understand natural speech, respond conversationally, and help resolve issues in real time. And according to a recent AI in insurance consumer survey from Sonant, many insurance customers are far more open to these experiences than agencies may assume.
Sonant surveyed more than 1,000U.S. consumers in March 2026 to better understand their comfort with voice AI in customer service and insurance-related interactions. It found that more than 80% of consumers have already interacted with an AI assistant in customer service. And the experiences have largely been positive. Over 70% had either a positive or neutral experience. Less than 15% reported having a negative experience.
From ‘FBI Claims Handling’ to AI-Assisted Workflows
Claims leaders are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to modernize operations, but how do they balance automation with human touch to ensure customer needs are being met?
“The predominant question I get [from customers] is, ‘Okay, if you’re using it, am I still going to be able to talk to my adjuster? Am I still going to have somebody assigned to my account? Am I still going to have somebody with experience handling these claims?” said Melissa Hill, North American head of claims at Allianz.
She was speaking on a panel at Carrier Management’s annual InsurTech Summit — The CX Advantage: The InsurTech Playbook for Authentic Customer Experience.
Announcements
USAA Broadens National Effort to Help Military Families Navigate Rising Costs
As rising costs put pressure on household budgets, USAA is expanding a countrywide effort to help military families build financial resilience through a combination of targeted insurance rate reductions, member dividends, safe-driving discounts and banking benefits designed to deliver meaningful financial relief to military families.
The actions are part of USAA’s continued focus on helping members navigate cost-of-living pressures and unexpected events—from severe weather and everyday expenses to the unique demands of military life, including Permanent Change of Station moves and deployments. The property and casualty insurance industry has increased auto insurance rates over the last five years because of increased natural disaster activity, inflation, and legal system abuse. USAA is reversing that trend. In 2026, about half of USAA policyholders are expected to see reductions in their six-month auto premiums.
“As the cost of living rises, we are focused on putting real money back into our members’ pockets in multiple ways,” said Juan C. Andrade, President and CEO of USAA. “From rate reductions to rewards programs and direct returns, our goal is to deliver meaningful, immediate relief while preserving the financial strength our members depend on.”
Big ‘I’ Launches New TrustedChoice.com Agency Locator - IA Magazine
Big ‘I’ Launches New TrustedChoice.com Agency Locator
The Big “I” has launched its new TrustedChoice.com agency locator that helps consumers find and connect with local independent agents. Available to all Big “I” member agencies, the all-new agency locator maintains TrustedChoice.com’s online recognition and popularity with consumers. The Big “I” now fully manages TrustedChoice.com, and all member agencies are automatically searchable on the site. Consumers can search by coverage needs and location, making it easier to discover and contact a Big “I” member when they are actively shopping for insurance.
While shoppers increasingly start with digital research, they still need guidance to make the right coverage decisions. The platform connects those online searches with independent agents who can turn interest into business.
“The current market underscores the critical role independent agents play in advising businesses and families,” says Charles Symington, Big “I” president & CEO. “Customers search online to find coverage, and our agencies must be visible and prominent across those channels. This is not a paid subscription service. Our new version of TrustedChoice.com is provided to Big ‘I’ members at no additional cost and connects them with consumers.”
InsurTech/M&A/Finance💰/Collaboration
Howard Hughes buys Vantage in $2.1 bn insurance deal
Howard Hughes closes its $2.1 bn acquisition of Vantage, using the specialty re/insurer to shift toward a Berkshire-style holding company model
The transaction gives HHH a major insurance platform and anchors its plan to become a diversified holding company. The deal, first announced in December 2025, closed after the companies received all required regulatory approvals.
Howard Hughes Insurance Holdings, a wholly owned HHH subsidiary, bought Vantage from its original investors, Carlyle Group and Hellman & Friedman.
Vantage, founded in 2020, has grown into a specialty insurance and reinsurance platform with a diversified global P/C portfolio, modern infrastructure, and advanced analytics, according to statements from Vantage and HHH.
HHH, based in The Woodlands, Texas, operates as a real estate development and management company. The company has backing from U.S. billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, founder and chief executive of Pershing Square Capital Management.
Honeycomb Insurance Raises $40 Million
Honeycomb Insurance (Chicago) has raised $40 million in additional funding, bringing the company’s total funding to date to $95 million. Honeycomb specializes in insurance for apartment buildings and condominium associations.
The company says it generated $275 million in gross written premium exiting 2025, expanded into additional states, broadened its product portfolio and increased total insured value across its platform.
The round was led by** Zeev Ventures, with participation from existing investor Ibex Investors and new investors **Peakline, Alpha Partners, Meitar Partners, Practical VC, and Harris Barton, a former San Francisco 49ers player. Honeycomb says the capital will be used to accelerate geographic expansion, improve agent-facing tools, expand product offerings and further develop its AI-driven underwriting platform.
The company says its underwriting platform evaluates properties at the individual-building level, using proprietary risk models and AI to price risk more granularly than traditional underwriting approaches. Honeycomb says its platform ingests structured and unstructured data points from sources including geospatial and environmental datasets, building characteristics, historical performance and high-resolution imagery.
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Recommended Events
ITC Vegas | Horizon of Possibilities
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ITC Vegas September 29, 2026 - October 1, 2026
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From the shore, the ocean can appear calm. Yet, under the surface, tectonic plates shift, pressure builds, and currents redirect—long before we detect movement. That’s insurance right now. Climate, technology, regulation, and human behavior are reshaping risk in real time. Change isn’t coming; it’s already here. The real question is how we move forward.
We set our sights on the horizon and turn insight into action.