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Guest blog: Connecting on the big questions shaping the future of insurance

HuntswoodAIRiskblogAC26.jpgThe ABI Annual Conference is one of the most important moments in the insurance calendar. It brings together leaders, innovators, and policymakers to tackle the questions that will define the future of our industry. This year, we’re proud to be a diamond sponsor at the event and contributing to two discussions that we believe are critical for every insurer: the role of AI and automation in claims and underwriting, and how we can close the growing protection gap in a changing risk landscape.

If you’re attending, we’d love to meet you, whether at our sessions or at our booth. These conversations are bigger than any one organisation, and they need diverse perspectives. Come and share your thoughts, challenge assumptions, and help shape the solutions that will keep our industry relevant and trusted.

Why these conversations matter

Insurance is built on trust and resilience, yet both are being tested. Technology is accelerating change, enabling faster decisions and new ways of working. At the same time, societal and environmental shifts are creating new vulnerabilities and unmet needs. Regulators are rightly asking tough questions about fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Against this backdrop, two themes stand out:

  1. AI and automation in claims and underwriting: Opportunity or overreach?
    AI and automation are no longer future concepts, they are here, reshaping how insurers operate. From instant claims decisions to predictive underwriting, the potential benefits are clear: lower costs, faster service, and improved efficiency. But these gains come with challenges. How do we ensure fairness and avoid bias? How do we maintain transparency when models grow more complex? And how do we stay compliant in a regulatory environment that is evolving as quickly as the technology itself?

    Our session will explore practical examples of automation in action, highlight where human oversight remains essential, and discuss what operational teams can do now to prepare for AI governance and auditability. This is not about hype, it’s about responsible, scalable integration that protects customers and strengthens trust.

  2. Closing the protection gap in a changing risk landscape
    The protection gap is widening. Climate risk, cyber threats, and social change are leaving individuals and businesses exposed. Gig workers often lack income protection. SMEs face growing cyber vulnerabilities. Younger demographics are underinsured. Traditional products and models are struggling to keep pace.

    In this session, we’ll look at how insurers can respond with innovation and agility. From embedded insurance and modular cover to partnerships that make protection more accessible, the opportunities are there, but they require operational transformation and smarter use of data. We’ll explore what it takes to make protection feel relevant and valuable in a world where risks are evolving faster than ever.

Join the discussion

These sessions are designed to spark debate and share practical ideas, not just theory. We want to hear your perspective: What’s working? Where are the barriers? How can we collaborate to deliver solutions that meet customer needs and regulatory expectations?

Visit our booth during the conference to continue the conversation. Whether you’re curious about AI governance or passionate about closing the protection gap, let’s connect and explore how we can move the industry forward together.

 


Last updated 27/01/2026