Published on: July 17, 2026

AI and Life Underwriting in Transition: Insights from an Expert Panel

Author: Ronald Poon-Affat, FSA, FIA, MAAA

Overview

This report was created because AI in life underwriting requires input from across the life insurance ecosystem. The SOA brought together a panel of perspectives from underwriting, brokerage and intermediary distribution, data and technology, and reinsurance. The future of AI-enabled life underwriting will depend on whether the industry can combine automation with judgment, speed with explainability, innovation with governance, and efficiency with trust.

Acknowledgements

Whitney Barnes

John Konczyk

Adnan Raja

Dave Rengachary, MD, DBIM, FALU, FLMI

Ronald Poon-Affat (Moderator), FSA, FIA C.Act, MAAA, CFA, HIBA

At the Society of Actuaries Research Institute:

Korrel Crawford, Senior Research Administrator

Dale Hall, FSA, MAAA, CFA, Managing Director of Research

FAQs

AI is already producing value, but that value is uneven, case-specific, and heavily influenced by carrier maturity, data readiness, workflow design, and the ability of underwriting teams to use the tools effectively.

The report provides practical advice: start with the underwriting problem (and workflow itself), not the technology.

Suggested Citation

Poon Affat, Ronald L. AI and Life Underwriting in Transition: Insights from an Expert Panel. Society of Actuaries Research Institute, July 2026.

Questions or Comments?

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If you have comments or questions, please send an email to Research@soa.org

Author: Ronald Poon-Affat, FSA, FIA, MAAA
Published on: July 17, 2026
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