In just twelve months, the conversation around Agentic AI in insurance has changed dramatically.
What began as curiosity about autonomous AI agents has evolved into a much more practical discussion about implementation, governance, economics and competitive advantage.
In this special solo episode, InsTech's Zoja Wojcik reflects on the developments that have shaped the market since InsTech's first Agentic AI event in November 2025. Drawing on conversations with insurers, brokers, MGAs, technology providers and industry leaders, she explores how the industry has moved beyond experimentation and towards a more challenging question: where does the commercial value actually come from?
Along the way, you'll hear insights from Simon Torrance, Erdal Atakan, Gina Gill, Elena Maran, Max Richter and Ian Thompson, alongside examples of how organisations including CFC, McGill & Partners, AIG, Duck Creek and hyperexponential are bringing Agentic AI into real insurance operations.
Whether you're still trying to understand what Agentic AI means for insurance or already evaluating deployment opportunities, this episode offers a practical snapshot of where the market stands today and the questions leaders should be asking next.
Want to continue the conversation? Join us in London on July 7 for 'The age of Agentic AI: from strategy to commercial value'.
In this episode:
00:00 - What is Agentic AI and why has it become one of insurance's most discussed technologies?
03:15 - Looking back at the industry's first major Agentic AI event in November 2025
05:45 - Simon Torrance on why Agentic AI should be viewed as a new workforce, not simply another software tool
06:20 - Early deployment examples from across the insurance market:
- CFC's Lane Assist
- McGill & Partners and Salesforce Agentforce
- AIG's AI-driven underwriting initiatives
- Federato's agentic underwriting platform
- hyperexponential and Banyan Risk
- Duck Creek's insurance-native Agentic AI platform
08:15 - Why moving from pilot projects to production remains difficult
10:00 - The defining question of 2026: proving commercial value and ROI
12:15 - Intelligence Capital, competitive advantage and why buying AI tools may only create parity
13:30 - Orchestration, governance and maintaining trust in agentic systems
15:00 - Workforce transformation and practical lessons for insurance leaders
16:00 - What questions should insurance organisations be asking next?
Key takeaways:
- The industry conversation has shifted from experimentation towards implementation and measurable business outcomes.
- Many of the biggest barriers to adoption are organisational rather than technical.
- Boards increasingly expect clear economic justification for AI investment.
- Competitive advantage may come less from AI models themselves and more from institutional knowledge and decision-making expertise.
- Governance frameworks must evolve alongside increasingly autonomous systems.
- Organisations that focus on specific business problems are more likely to succeed than those pursuing AI for its own sake.
Featured contributors:
Further reading:
For listeners looking to explore the themes discussed in this episode:
Agentic AI & insurance
Strategy & commercial value
Governance & Responsible AI
