Emerging Technologies

The winners of the Global Innovation Awards, which the International Insurance Society and ITL handed out last week, suggest a revealing theme. 

Earth observation technology emerges as a crucial tool in predicting and fighting wildfires.

By combining historical aerial imagery, property condition data, and AI, insurers can optimize underwriting, inspections, and fraud reduction.

Smartphones and apps are now at the point where we can all have dashcams — reducing fraud, simplifying the adjudication of claims, and curbing risky driving. 

The key is to use AI and the cloud for agile, incremental improvements that allow a "perform while transforming" journey. 

Action is the order of the day. At the country, company, and individual levels, we need to talk less and do more. 

Automating repetitive tasks can streamline workflows and allow for data-driven decisions with greater accuracy and speed.--but getting to scale can be tricky.  

Solar power carries risks from fire, natural hazards, and theft and vandalism. It also creates potential liabilities, including from overloaded roofs.