Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere, from the apps we use to the way businesses operate. But for insurance professionals, the term can still feel a bit abstract. What does AI really mean for your day-to-day work? And how can you use it to better serve your clients?
Whether you’re an insurer or a broker, understanding the basics of AI is the first step toward making more strategic decisions and ensuring your business stays ahead of market shifts and changes.
What Is AI, Really?
At its core, AI refers to technology that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. That includes things like recognizing patterns, making predictions, understanding language, and even learning from experience. You’ve probably interacted with AI without realizing it. Chatbots, voice assistants, or even spam filters in your inbox are all practical examples of AI at work.
In the insurance world, AI is being used to automate processes, analyze data, and improve customer service. It’s not about replacing people. Rather, it’s about helping professionals work more efficiently and make better decisions.
Key AI Terms to Know
Here are a few foundational concepts that come up often in conversations about AI:
- Machine Learning (ML): A type of AI that learns from data to improve performance over time. For example, ML can help identify fraud by spotting unusual patterns in claims.
- Agentic AI: AI systems that act autonomously to achieve goals and outcomes, often collaborating with humans and other agents.
- Generative AI: AI that creates new content such as text, images, or code, based on the patterns it has learned.
- AI Agent: A software that perceives its environment and takes actions to achieve specific objectives.
- Natural Language Processing (NLP): This allows computers to understand and respond to human language. It powers things like virtual assistants and automated email responses.
- Predictive Analytics: Using historical data to forecast future outcomes. In insurance, this might mean predicting which clients are most likely to file a claim or lapse on a policy.
- Automation: AI can handle repetitive tasks like data entry or document review, freeing up time for more strategic work.
With the right foundation, brokers and carriers can better evaluate emerging tools and make confident decisions about where technology fits into their strategy.
How AI Is Already Helping Insurance Professionals
Many of the tools and platforms insurance professionals use every day already have AI working quietly behind the scenes. For example, AI can analyze client data to generate quotes in seconds, making the renewal process faster and more accurate. With as much as 45% of producer time being spent daily on inefficient or administrative tasks, AI can be a game-changer in streamlining workflows and reducing or eliminating fragmented user experiences.
In the customer service realm, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are available around the clock to answer questions, guide clients through processes, and provide timely support, enhancing the overall experience while freeing up team members’ time to work on other projects.
AI also has the power to turbocharge your marketing. AI marketing agents can score and prioritize leads, schedule and send emails, and even prep and coordinate meetings. Agentic AI marketing unlocks the unique ability to orchestrate specialized “agents” across multiple data sources, reimagining traditional, often laggy workflows.
What You Can Do Today
You don’t need to reinvent your entire workflow to begin leveraging AI. A practical starting point is to evaluate the tools and platforms already in use and consider how their capabilities align with your day-to-day operations.
It also helps to stay curious. Reading up on trends, attending webinars, or chatting with peers can spark ideas and reveal practical ways others are using AI to their advantage. Zywave’s resource library is an excellent source of knowledge and insights, with case studies, info sheets, and webinars that break down exactly how AI can benefit insurance professionals and what trends are impacting the industry.
Embrace What’s Next in Insurance Innovation
Artificial intelligence is becoming a foundational part of how modern insurance operations run. For brokers and carriers, gaining a clear understanding of its core concepts is essential. With a solid working knowledge of AI, professionals can better evaluate emerging technologies, adapt to evolving workflows, and ultimately enhance the level of service and insight they provide to clients.
Zywave can help your business grow smarter, move faster, and scale with confidence. Book a demo today to learn more about our latest AI-powered tools.