Fraud prevention and customer trust are no longer separate issues in insurance—they are now inseparable. As fraud becomes more sophisticated and easier to commit with modern technology, insurers face the challenge of protecting themselves without alienating honest customers.
Manjit Rana, EVP Insurance at Clearspeed, explains how traditional methods of profiling and evidence-checking often fall short, creating bias and friction that damage the customer relationship. Instead, insurers must adopt new approaches that both deter fraud and build lasting trust, recognizing that exaggerated claims are just as harmful as outright fabrications.
Manjit believes a new way of thinking about the role of insurance is needed. Instead of being viewed merely as a “safety net” that customers reluctantly pay for and rarely use, insurance must become more like a “guardian angel”, adding value in everyday life through proactive support and meaningful engagement.
Emerging tools, from AI-powered fraud detection to neuroscience-based trust assessments, show promise in making this shift possible. By focusing on building trust while minimizing fraud, insurers can transform not just how claims are handled but also how customers experience protection in a constantly changing world.
The insurance industry is facing a moment of reckoning. While other sectors like banking and capital markets have embraced digital transformation, some insurers continue to struggle with legacy systems, fragmented data, and complex distribution models.
InsurTech Amplified welcomed Robert Lewis, CEO of INTX Insurance Software, who highlights how these issues have slowed innovation and stifled efficiency. Despite $60 billion in insurtech investment over the past decade, many insurers remain stuck with outdated infrastructure that makes integration painful and transformation expensive. Drawing lessons from capital markets and emerging economies, Robert argues that a unified, modern software approach—built from the ground up—could finally help the entire industry leap forward.
At the heart of this transformation is the need for cleaner data, smarter software, and a simplified value chain. Technologies like AI and predictive analytics hold real promise for underwriting, fraud detection, and capital allocation, but they are only as effective as the systems that support them. Meanwhile, emerging digital platforms—from ride-hailing to social media—offer fresh opportunities to rethink distribution and customer engagement. The path forward lies in breaking free from legacy constraints and designing insurance systems that are agile, auditable, and built for the digital age.
The way insurance is delivered to micro and small businesses is undergoing a significant transformation. Traditionally treated as a single category, small businesses actually vary widely in size, complexity, and needs. InsurTech Amplified welcomed Jack Ramsey, VP Agent Channel at Next Insurance to investigate the evolving relationship between agents and digital carriers.
Recognizing this evolution, leading insurers are shifting away from a one-size-fits-all approach toward more tailored, segmented strategies. At the same time, digital tools are redefining how agents work—automating simple processes like quoting and servicing so agents can focus on high-value customer interactions. This shift is not just about technology, but about rethinking how efficiency, accessibility, and trust can coexist in a modern insurance experience.
These changes also reflect a broader generational and cultural shift. Both agents and small business owners are increasingly digital-first, expecting fast, seamless, and flexible interactions that match their everyday consumer experiences. The result is a growing demand for self-service options, intuitive interfaces, and faster product development cycles. Insurers that listen closely to agents and customers—and build around their evolving needs—are finding new ways to serve traditionally underserved segments. The future of small business insurance belongs to those willing to challenge legacy thinking and redesign from the ground up.
The insurance industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by artificial intelligence. Instead of layering AI onto existing processes, a new approach is emerging—one that rebuilds insurance from the ground up using AI as the foundation.InsurTech Amplified welcomed Onur Gungor, the Founder and CEO of Allegory, who is reimagining the insurance industry by building it from first principles—with artificial intelligence at the core.
This involves modeling every aspect of the value chain, from underwriting and pricing to claims handling and customer service, as interconnected workflows that can be managed by intelligent agents. These agents don’t just automate tasks—they coordinate, learn, and support human decision-makers by providing real-time data, context, and summaries. This fusion of actuarial thinking and AI results in systems that are faster, more efficient, and capable of scaling into underserved regions and emerging markets.
However, even with advanced automation, there are essential roles that only humans can fill. Empathy, intuition, and ethical judgment remain core to meaningful customer interactions, especially in moments of crisis or distress. While AI can process massive amounts of data and generate new solutions rapidly, it still requires human oversight to guide, interpret, and ensure that outcomes align with values. The future of insurance is not about replacing people with machines but empowering them with tools that make their work more impactful, accurate, and compassionate.
Understanding and managing flood risk has become increasingly important as climate change and rapid urbanization intensify the frequency and impact of extreme weather events. Traditional approaches that rely on historical data are no longer sufficient. Extreme floods are rare and unpredictable, making past events a poor guide for the future.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, Dr. Andrew Smith, co-Founder and COO of Fathom, brings clarity to one of the most urgent challenges facing the world today—flood risk. With a background in computational flood modeling, Dr. Smith explains how the field has evolved dramatically in the past decade. Instead of relying on limited historical data, today’s most advanced models simulate the actual physics of flooding, using improved satellite imagery, better terrain data, and more powerful computing.
What makes this work so important is not just climate change, but the rapid increase in exposure—more buildings, people, and infrastructure in harm’s way. Fathom’s models are now used by insurance companies, governments, tech firms, banks, and even humanitarian organizations to identify risk and plan smarter. From protecting critical infrastructure to safely siting refugee camps, this work illustrates how science, technology, and data-driven insight can help society become more resilient in a rapidly changing world.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how insurance companies process claims, detect fraud, and manage risk. But to be effective and fair, AI must be developed and deployed with careful attention to data quality, model transparency, and ethical use. AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on, and if that data is biased or incomplete, the outcomes will reflect and even amplify those problems.
In a conversation filled with lived experience, John Standish, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation and Compliance Officer at Charlee AI, laid out a powerful and pragmatic vision for how artificial intelligence must be built for the insurance industry. Having transitioned from a long and substantial career in law enforcement and insurance fraud investigations to the world of InsurTech, John offers rare dual expertise: a regulator’s scrutiny and a technologist’s curiosity. His perspectives cut through hype and buzzwords and land squarely in the domain of real-world consequences, compliance, and human-centered innovation.
John underscored the importance of domain-specific AI models that are trained with relevant, clean, and unbiased data. He cautioned against using generic models and stressed the need for explainability, transparency, and regulatory compliance in all AI-driven decisions. The conversation illuminated a crucial point: AI isn’t a magic fix for outdated processes—it’s a force multiplier for organizations willing to rethink their foundational data strategies and workflows. For the insurance industry, embracing this challenge is not just a matter of innovation, but of survival in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming central to how businesses operate, but its success depends on one critical foundation—data. In industries like insurance, where legacy systems and scattered data are common, the promise of AI is often held back by outdated infrastructure and poor data quality. Simply migrating data from old systems to new ones is not enough.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, Mike Allee, President at Universal Conversion Technologies, explores how the insurance industry must confront its legacy data challenges to truly benefit from AI. While AI offers massive potential, it cannot function effectively without high-quality, well-structured data.
Mike emphasizes that moving data is only part of the solution—insurers must also reshape it for AI use, taking care to comply with local regulations and ethical considerations like data sovereignty and consumer consent.
Mike also highlights a shift in thinking where data governance is no longer just a back-office task—it’s becoming a strategic driver. Some forward-thinking insurers are now using governance teams as gatekeepers for tech investments, ensuring that AI is deployed responsibly and effectively. Importantly, AI itself is being used to assist in data cleansing and validation, helping insurers prepare their systems for transformation. This marks a significant change: data is no longer just a tool for reporting—it is a strategic asset driving business transformation in the age of AI.
Insurance is meant to serve as a financial safety net, but the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters are exposing deep flaws in how that safety net is delivered. Traditional models, especially for homeowners, renters, and small businesses, are no longer keeping pace with the changing environment.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, Nakita Devlin, the Founderand CEO of Ric Insurance explains why she believes the insurance industry must urgently evolve to meet the moment. Traditional models, especially for homeowners, renters, and small businesses, are no longer keeping pace with the changing environment. As property values rise and recovery costs soar, the gap between what insurance promises and what it delivers continues to widen.
To address these issues, new approaches are emerging that prioritize speed, accessibility, and relevance. Parametric insurance—triggered by weather data rather than lengthy claims processes—offers faster financial relief. Technology is playing a crucial role in making these products scalable and responsive, while alternative distribution methods, like employee benefits or community-based programs, are helping reach those most at risk. By focusing on transparency, regulatory reform, and targeted innovation, Nakita believes there’s a path forward to build insurance that truly meets the demands of a climate-challenged world.
Preventive health is one of the most powerful yet underused tools for improving quality of life as we age. The earlier we build healthy habits—such as regular movement, better nutrition, improved sleep, and stress management—the more likely we are to avoid chronic disease, reduce long-term healthcare costs, and maintain independence into older age.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified with Alexandra Pitkin-Morin, Directory of Service Delivery at Assured Allies, explores the power of preventive wellness as a tool for aging with strength, dignity, and independence. Drawing on her background as a registered dietitian and personal trainer, Alexandra highlights how small, intentional lifestyle changes—such as improving sleep, reducing stress, and eating better—can significantly impact long-term health outcomes.
Behavior change isn’t just about information—it’s about motivation, access, and support. Trusted, personalized coaching can help individuals identify what matters most to them and translate that into meaningful action. Programs that pair gentle guidance with low-lift goals can create momentum without overwhelming people.
As society faces a rapidly aging population designing care that is proactive, human-centered, and accessible is no longer optional—it’s essential.
Insurance is often seen as a product designed to protect against loss—but it can be much more. At its core, it holds the potential to promote daily well-being and inspire people to live with greater purpose. When combined with simple, consistent habits like walking, mindful breathing, and better sleep practices, insurance can become a platform for physical, mental, social, and financial wellness.
Sammy Rubin, a co-Founder and CEO of YuLife, is reimagining what insurance can be—not just a safety net for life’s worst moments, but a platform to inspire people to live their best lives every day. Drawing from his personal journey through burnout and renewal, Sammy and the team have built YuLife around the belief that well-being should be accessible to everyone.
Rather than promoting extreme fitness or luxury retreats, YuLife encourages simple, daily habits—like walking, breathing exercises, and mindfulness—that are gamified and rewarded, creating a sense of fun, engagement, and community among employees.
Building a company around this vision requires more than innovation; it demands purpose, culture, and empathy. A mission-driven approach that prioritizes values such as kindness, curiosity, and spiritual depth fosters not only strong internal teams, but also deep engagement with users.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the insurance and financial services industries, offering new levels of efficiency, automation, and predictive power. But with these advancements comes a growing concern—bias. When AI systems are trained on historical data that reflects past inequalities or incomplete information, they risk reinforcing those same biases in decisions such as underwriting, claims processing, and fraud detection.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, Ichun Lai, Principal at Propel Global Advisory, and Theresa Blissing, best-selling author and Founder of InsurTech Amplified, explore how artificial intelligence can both solve and amplify long-standing issues in the insurance industry—particularly bias. They explain how AI models, when trained on historical or incomplete data, risk replicating societal inequalities at scale.
Bias isn’t just a technical flaw; it’s a product of decisions around problem framing, feature selection, and human oversight. Whether AI is fully autonomous or human-assisted, every point in the decision-making spectrum carries the potential for bias, making awareness and vigilance essential across the organization.
As AI becomes more embedded in our lives, Theresa and Ichun urge organizations to design with intention—placing human values at the core of every algorithm to build a more inclusive, trustworthy, and responsible insurance industry.
Theresa and Ichun worked with some amazing industry professionals to produce a white paper about bias in AI-driven decision making which you can read here.
Many industries, including insurance, are drowning in unstructured data—documents like loss run reports that vary wildly in format and are difficult to analyze. The inability to quickly and accurately extract this information limits decision-making, slows down operations, and adds unnecessary costs.
Solving problems like this requires more than just applying artificial intelligence; it demands clean, reliable data as a foundation. By building tools that extract and structure this data with near-perfect accuracy, companies can unlock powerful insights, automate processes, and make smarter decisions at scale.
InsurTech Amplified sat down with with Scott Knowles, co-founder and CEO of Deep Vector, a company that began by tackling a highly specific problem in insurance—extracting accurate, structured data from messy, inconsistent loss run reports. With over 30 years of industry experience, Scott knew firsthand how much valuable decision-making was hampered by hard-to-access data.
What started as a focused solution for brokers and carriers has since evolved into a powerful platform with potential across multiple industries, from finance to government, all struggling with the same fundamental issue: making sense of unstructured documents.
With recent funding in place and massive expansion opportunities on the horizon, Scott’s story is a brilliant example of how deep industry knowledge, entrepreneurial curiosity, and a people-first mindset can unlock innovations with far-reaching impact.
The insurance industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by artificial intelligence. Traditionally, underwriting and claims processing have relied heavily on manual efforts, constrained by the complexity and unstructured nature of risk data. AI, particularly generative AI, is now changing this by enabling insurers to process vast amounts of disparate information with unprecedented speed and accuracy.
This shift is not just about automation—it is about fundamentally enhancing decision-making, allowing insurers to assess and mitigate risk more effectively while scaling operations in ways that were previously impossible.
Richard Hartley, CEO of Cytora, joined InsurTech Amplified to explore how AI is revolutionizing risk assessment, underwriting, and claims processing in the insurance industry. He discusses how generative AI eliminates long-standing scale constraints by structuring unstructured data, enabling insurers to evaluate risk more accurately and efficiently.
By automating manual tasks, AI not only enhances underwriting decisions but also empowers insurance professionals to focus on strategic, high-value activities. Richard emphasizes AI’s role in shifting insurance from a reactive to a proactive industry, where new products and risk segments can be identified and developed at scale.
Healthcare in the United States is facing a crisis of affordability, with costs rising faster than inflation and placing increasing financial strain on individuals and employers. High-deductible health plans, designed to control premiums, often leave employees vulnerable to unmanageable out-of-pocket expenses. This structure has created a significant gap, as many Americans lack the savings needed to cover medical emergencies, leading to debt, early withdrawals from retirement accounts, or delayed care—decisions that carry severe personal and economic consequences.
Veer Gidwaney, Founder and CEO of Ansel Health, is on a mission to fix it. Unlike traditional insurance, Ansel’s innovative supplemental coverage addresses the rising out-of-pocket expenses caused by high-deductible health plans.
Innovative solutions like these are emerging to address these challenges, focusing on bridging the gap between rising healthcare costs and the financial resilience of individuals. Supplemental insurance products, designed to complement traditional health coverage, are redefining what insurance can do. These solutions simplify claims, proactively pay benefits, and cover a broad range of conditions, offering financial relief when it’s needed most.
By leveraging thoughtful product design and streamlining processes, these innovations aim to make healthcare more accessible, reduce financial stress, and deliver real value to both employers and employees in an increasingly strained system.
The insurance industry is going through a transformation. Unlike banking, where money moves instantly between institutions, insurance remains fragmented and difficult to transfer. Consumers who want to switch providers must start from scratch, navigating multiple processes that create unnecessary friction. This lack of interconnectivity makes insurance feel cumbersome compared to other, modern financial services.
To close this gap, insurers are embracing embedded insurance—seamlessly integrating coverage into everyday transactions. With better digital infrastructure, insurance can become as intuitive as purchasing a product or making a payment.
In this episode, we spoke to Wayne Slavin, the CEO of Sure, Inc. who is on a mission to change how consumers and brands experience insurance. For insurers, the challenge is adapting to changing consumer expectations and finding new distribution models. Traditional channels are no longer enough; people want to buy insurance from the brands they already trust and companies like Amazon, Apple, and Toyota are best positioned to deliver it. Just as airlines and retailers have transformed financial services with co-branded credit cards, the next frontier is embedded insurance.
The industry must embrace digital infrastructure that allows real-time data, seamless portability, and improved customer experiences. The future of insurance is not just about policies—it’s about creating an ecosystem where protection is intuitive, efficient, and embedded into everyday life.
The property and casualty insurance industry is undergoing a critical transformation, driven by emerging technologies and evolving regulatory landscapes. AI and predictive analytics are at the forefront of this change, enabling insurers to refine risk assessments, improve operational efficiency, and deliver better customer experiences. These tools not only make processes like claims handling faster and more accurate but also help tackle systemic challenges like rising premiums and the protection gap, ensuring insurance becomes more accessible and fair for consumers.
Scott Ham, CEO of Pinpoint Predictive, shared how these tools are reshaping everything from profitability to claims handling. Insurers are using AI to refine risk assessments, reduce fraud, and speed up claims processes—improving customer experiences and cutting costs. But with these advancements come challenges, like ensuring fairness and avoiding biases in AI models. The goal? Better data-driven decisions that close the protection gap while keeping insurance accessible.
Scott also spoke about the power of predictive analytics, explaining how Pinpoint Predictive helps insurers make smarter decisions from underwriting to pricing. By delivering deeper insights into risk profiles, insurers can create fairer, more personalized coverage while boosting efficiency. The conversation tackled critical issues, from rising premiums to the evolving role of tech in bridging the protection gap. With the industry embracing AI and analytics at scale, Scott sees a future where technology not only drives profitability but also fosters inclusivity, better customer outcomes, and industry-wide innovation.
Wildfires are a recurring nightmare in California, but according to David Gritz, co-founder of InsurTech NY, resilience is possible if we rethink how we build, insure, and regulate.
California’s wildfires are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by a climate impact, sprawling urban development, and inadequate infrastructure. With its semi-arid environment, extended droughts, and gusty winds like the Santa Anas, the region is primed for devastating fires.
Yet, much of the damage could be mitigated by better preparation. Building with fire-resistant materials such as cement and steel, adopting wildfire-specific building codes, and maintaining defensible spaces around homes are critical steps in reducing risk. Wildfire preparedness isn’t just about individual choices—it’s about community-wide efforts to create resilient neighborhoods.
The state’s insurance market compounds the challenge. Regulatory hurdles make it difficult for insurers to adjust rates or enter the market, leading many to exit altogether. This leaves homeowners reliant on inadequate last-resort options like the FAIR Plan. To build a sustainable future, a multi-pronged approach is needed: streamlining regulations, increasing construction capacity, and encouraging technological innovation in insurance and risk management. Resilience is no longer optional—it’s a necessity for California’s survival in the face of escalating climate risks.
Gamification, when designed thoughtfully, has the power to transform mundane activities into engaging and rewarding experiences. At its core, successful gamification taps into fundamental human motivations, such as the desire for achievement, exploration, social connection, and competition.
In this episode of InsurTech Amplified, we dive into the world of gamification with Josh Hart, co-Founder and Chief Product and Technology Officer at YuLife. Josh shares how YuLife is transforming insurance by integrating gaming mechanics with wellness, creating engaging and rewarding experiences. Through simple mechanics like rewards for healthy actions and storytelling that imbues the app with meaning, YuLife turns everyday tasks into meaningful, habit-forming activities.
But short-term engagement has very little meaning. Josh discusses the secret to sustaining long-term engagement, drawing inspiration from games like World of Warcraft, which have captivated users for decades.
YuLife’s approach combines dynamic quests, social interaction, and evolving mechanics to keep users motivated and engaged over the long-term. With gamification at its core, YuLife redefines how people perceive insurance, shifting it from a necessary expense to a tool for personal growth and daily joy.
As renewable energy becomes a cornerstone of the global transition to cleaner sources, the industry faces a critical challenge: resilience in the face of increasingly severe weather events.
In this rapidly changing environment, renewable energy projects like solar and wind farms are facing unexpected risks, and insurance is stepping up as a vital player in securing their future. Jason Kaminsky, CEO of kWh Analytics, details how the renewable energy is moving toward building for resilience. With property damage from severe weather on the rise, renewable developers are being forced to rethink their strategies. The “lowest cost provider” approach is giving way to a new era of resilience-focused design. Insurance has become a central factor in ensuring these projects’ financial viability.
The team at kWh Analytics combines powerful data models, advanced technology, and a fresh perspective on insurance. They use data-driven insights to help developers build assets that withstand natural catastrophes, collaborating with banks, the Department of Energy, and even leveraging parametric insurance to cover production risks.
As Jason explains, insurance is a tool for long-term sustainability in the renewable energy boom. In this episode, we dig into why insurance matters more than ever in clean energy and how companies like kWh are leading the charge in rethinking what it takes to secure a resilient, renewable future.
The U.S. healthcare system is a paradox: a global leader in medical innovation, yet plagued by inefficiencies that leave patients frustrated . In this episode of “This Month, Amplified” with David Gritz, Co-Founder and Managing Director of InsurTech NY, we explored the system’s three main pillars—providers, hospitals, and insurers.
The shortage of doctors, impacted by high education costs, leaves many without adequate care. Hospitals, driven by profit motives, operate with opaque pricing systems that confuse patients, while health insurers operate on a cost-plus model. The result? A system that sometimes feels stacked against the very people it’s meant to serve.
David also unpacked the growing public anger, illustrated tragically by the recent shooting of United Healthcare’s CEO. While violence is never the answer, it underscores the desperation many feel navigating a system that can feel unfair.
Change won’t come easily, but the solution lies in education, advocacy, and systemic reform. By increasing the supply of doctors, breaking up oligopolistic structures, and empowering patients with tools and knowledge, we can begin to shift incentives toward better care and outcomes. In David’s words, "The solution isn’t violence; it’s economics."