As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve in the P&C insurance industry, navigating regulatory trends has become increasingly critical to ensuring compliance, maintaining consumer trust, and fostering responsible innovation. In a recent AAIS webinar, industry experts discussed the evolving role of AI in the insurance sector, focusing on its regulatory trends and best practices for responsible adoption. Chris Aufenthie, Director of Regulatory Filings at AAIS, moderated the discussion with insights from Anthony Habayeb, Co-Founder and CEO of Monitaur, and Mary Block, Director of Insurance Regulation at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. Together, they explored key topics including trends in AI adoption, practical steps to align with the NAIC AI Bulletin, and strategies to ensure transparency and explainability for regulators and consumers.
Why AI Is a Hot Topic Across the Insurance Industry
While predictive modeling has long been a part of insurance operations, the rise of advanced AI technologies, including generative models such as GPT, has created new possibilities. Habayeb shared, "Once we got into the world where GPT and generative happen, you now had non-technical people, non-actuaries, and business leaders, saying, 'I want to build a model to do this thing.'" This democratization of AI technology has sparked growing interest in how AI can solve insurance’s unique challenges, especially in a low-margin, often manual environment. Aufenthie further emphasized AI’s mainstream rise, noting that as AI becomes more accessible, it signals a significant shift in its potential across the industry.
Regulatory Perspective of AI in the Insurance Industry
The growing role of AI in insurance has caught the attention of regulators. This can be proven by the NAIC Innovation Cybersecurity and Technology (H) Committee, which was created to address AI and its potential to transform the industry, Block explained. "Insurance is an industry that is sort of perfect for the use of technology," she noted. Regulators are focused on ensuring AI is applied within existing frameworks, though the complexity of integrating emerging technologies with traditional regulations remains a key challenge.
Consumer-Facing Applications of AI in the Insurance Industry
Regulators are particularly concerned with AI’s consumer-facing applications, such as in underwriting, fraud detection, and claims processing. Block referenced surveys in the auto insurance sector, highlighting a significant gap between the intention to use AI and its actual implementation. "The numbers went from... 80-90% are thinking about using it... to 20% are actually using it,” she revealed. Despite this, areas like claims, fraud detection, and marketing are seeing more widespread AI adoption.
Biggest Hurdles That Insurers Face in Advancing Their AI Journeys
One of the largest obstacles for insurers, especially smaller carriers, is the reliance on third-party vendors for AI solutions. While large insurers may have the resources to build and tailor their own AI systems, smaller companies often lack the infrastructure to do so. Habayeb advised smaller carriers to manage relationships with external vendors to implement AI solutions effectively.
The AI Bulletin: Its Purpose and How It Hopes to Protect the Consumer
The AI Bulletin, passed about a year ago, serves as a crucial step toward regulating AI in the insurance industry. Block explained that the bulletin is not a statute but provides clarity on regulators’ expectations for AI use within the context of existing laws. "It aims to ensure that AI is used responsibly and transparently, focusing on protecting consumers," she explained. The bulletin addresses concerns such as AI-driven pricing, ensuring fairness, and avoiding discriminatory practices in line with established regulations. However, Block noted that this is only the beginning. Future legislative efforts may further refine AI governance, particularly around third-party data and models.
Managing State-by-State Differences With AI Compliance
Habayeb explained that navigating AI regulations is complicated by the different approaches taken by individual states. "If a state establishes their AI risk management program in 2025, the degree to which you have robust testing, validation, and continuous monitoring of the high-risk things... might take a little bit more time," he said. States like New York, Colorado, and California have already implemented their own policies that differ from the AI Bulletin’s guidelines, creating additional challenges for insurers trying to maintain compliance. Habayeb advised insurers to develop a consistent, repeatable structure for managing AI compliance, with a focus on the highest-risk use cases in 2025. "Have some consistent structure for knowing that it's happening, proving that you evaluated its appropriateness, and that you're keeping an eye on it," he said.
NIST: Finding a Framework and Importance of Investing in AI Now for the Future
The NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF) offers a critical tool for companies seeking to ensure responsible AI use. While Habayeb noted that the framework is still evolving, he praised its structure as a valuable guide. He emphasized that insurance companies should start aligning AI governance with existing industry standards, such as actuarial practices.
Steps for Insurers to Align With the Bulletin’s Goals
To align with the AI Bulletin’s guidelines, Block emphasized that insurers must assemble the right team to build a practical governance structure. "You need all the people in the room to build a practical governance structure so that it makes sense," she said. After the team is in place, insurers should focus on defining clear internal policies that outline the roles, responsibilities, and risk management strategies related to AI. Habayeb added that insurers should be ready to explain how their AI systems align with corporate policies and regulatory expectations. "You want to see those connected, right? How have you affected that policy?" he asked, reinforcing the need for transparency and clear communication with regulators.
To view the full webinar, click on the video above.
Questions? Please reach out to any of the featured speakers through the contact information below.
Chris Aufenthie
Director of Regulatory Filings – AAIS
chrisa@aaisonline.com
Anthony Habayeb
Co-Founder & CEO – Monitaur
anthony@monitaur.ai
Mary Block
Director of Insurance Regulation – Vermont Department of Financial Regulation
mary.block@vermont.gov