Insurers Deploy AI Tools Faster Than Strategy to Support Them
Commercial property and casualty insurers are adopting artificial intelligence in underwriting at a rapid pace, but most lack the strategic framework to use those tools effectively. A survey of 211 commercial insurance professionals found a significant gap between tool deployment and confidence in how to deploy them.
Nearly 90% of respondents expect more underwriting tasks to be automated in coming years. More than 70% said their organizations introduced new AI underwriting tools in 2025, and 66% plan to add more in 2026. Over half have already deployed AI in at least one production underwriting workflow.
Yet only 20.4% of leaders said they are highly confident their organization has a clear, actionable AI strategy for underwriting. More than 40% placed themselves in the bottom half of the confidence scale.
Speed Without Strategy Creates Risk
John Stammen, chief executive officer of Convr, which conducted the survey, said the industry has moved past debating whether AI belongs in underwriting. The real question now is how carriers implement it.
"Many are deploying tools before putting in place the strategic framework needed to make those investments produce durable business results," Stammen said.
The survey identified why insurers feel pressured to move quickly. Manual data entry slows underwriting for 35.1% of respondents. Dated and legacy technology affects 27.5%, and too many submission data sources hampers 24.6%. Sixty-three percent operate in hybrid environments, mixing legacy systems with cloud-based tools, creating integration challenges.
What Underwriting Teams Actually Need
When asked what would most help their teams, respondents pointed to three areas: AI tool training (47.4%), pre-screened and enriched submissions (46.9%), and simpler access to data (45.5%).
The responses suggest carriers are not simply seeking more AI tools. They need those tools supported by better data, clearer workflows and stronger execution.
Convr argues that competitive advantage in the next phase of AI adoption will go to carriers that close the gap between tool deployment and strategy. Speed alone will not be enough. Firms that combine automation with training, clarity and a more deliberate operating model are more likely to see durable returns.
Key Findings
- 89.5% expect more underwriting tasks to be automated
- 70.6% introduced new AI underwriting tools in 2025
- 65.9% plan to introduce additional AI tools in 2026
- 53.6% already have AI deployed in at least one production underwriting workflow
- Only 20.4% are highly confident in their underwriting AI strategy
- 56.9% describe their organization's culture toward AI as cautiously open
For more on how organizations are implementing AI Agents & Automation and adopting AI for Insurance, see our coverage of industry adoption trends.
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