The Self-Driving Shift

AM Best TV & Audio: Axa XL Exec: Captives Brace for Major Industry Change Expected Behind Autonomous Vehicle Rollout: Professionals also discuss the effects of hailstorms on solar insurance and examine how rising casualty claims are widening coverage gaps.

Academic Research: FSU Research Examines How Insurers Adapt After Natural Catastrophes: Researchers Dana Telljohann and Patricia Born discussed a Florida State University study on how insurers adjust coverage, filings and regulatory engagement in response to severe natural disasters.

App Store: Dare To Compare: Carriers and Their Customers Embrace Apps’ Shopping Tools: Once cause for trepidation among insurers, online comparison shopping tools via apps have helped with sales and service for both carriers and customers.

Artificial Intelligence: AI Platforms Project the Arrival of Widespread Use of Autonomous Vehicles, Impact on Insurance: Artificial intelligence expects a shift from driver to manufacturer liability as autonomous vehicles gain market share. The question: How soon?

Asset Management: Growing Number of Insurers Outsourcing Their Investment Management Needs: The investment shift by the life/annuity insurance industry to structured assets, private credit and other alternative asset classes has led to a greater need for outsourcing, according to an AM Best report.

Auto Insurance: Self-Driving Shift Comes With Early Costs, Changing Landscape for Insurers: The move to fully autonomous vehicles in the private passenger auto sector could cut down on accidents, while increasing severity and transforming the face of insurance.

Best's Calendars: Cyber, AI Rank Among Cayman Captive Forum Hot Topics: AM Best will attend and provide video coverage from the event, which includes a track for health care captives, given their unique risks and high-profile role.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: Top 25 Commercial Auto No-Fault Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: Top 25 Other Commercial Auto Liability – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: Top 25 Other Private Passenger Auto Liability – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: Top 25 Private Passenger No-Fault Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: Top 25 US Auto Liability Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: Top 25 US Auto Physical Damage Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: Top 25 US Commercial Auto Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: Top 25 US Private Passenger Auto Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: Top 25 US Total Auto Writers – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: US Auto Liability – Top Writers by State, Canada and US Territories – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: US Auto Physical Damage – Top Writers by State, Canada and US Territories – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: US Commercial Auto – Top Writers by State, Canada and US Territories – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: US Private Passenger Auto – Top Writers by State, Canada and US Territories – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Best’s Rankings: Auto: US Total All Auto Lines – Top Writers by State, Canada and US Territories – 2025 Edition: Ranked by 2024 direct premiums written.

Bookstore: Author: Digital Innovation, Data Drive New Insurance Products, Consumer Demands: In the latest edition of his book, Risk and Insurance Services Consulting President Kevin Glaser discusses how data, AI and shifting risks are transforming insurance and reshaping how insurers serve customers.

Corporate Changes: Merger, State Actions and Name and Domiciliary Changes: Cigna HealthCare and Safe Auto are among the North American life/health and property/casualty insurers that have experienced a corporate change.

Executive Changes: Lloyd’s Names Permanent Chief Operating Officer, Replacing Interim COO Appointee: Axis Capital announces selection of next chief financial officer, Arch taps chief information officer and MetLife hires EVP-chief accounting officer.

From the Editor’s Desk: Insurance Technology: Driving Toward Innovation: Best’s Review examines the impact of autonomous cars, the growing role of insurtechs and the threat of “data poisoning” in October’s issue.

Insurance Industry Research: WTW Report Discusses New Klarity Life Underwriting Mortality Scoring Model: With the proliferation of new data sources and technological advancements, there is a significant opportunity to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of underwriting, according to the report.

Insurance Professional Resources: How a Manufacturer Can Make Sure Its ‘Foreseeable Use’ Bases Are Covered for Potential Product Safety Hazards: Janine McCartney, a safety engineer with HHC Safety Engineering Services Inc. and HHC Safety Consulting Services Corp., explained the nuances of foreseeable use from a risk management and safety perspective.

Issues & Answers: AI: Stronger Ops Equal Smarter AI: Subramanian Sankaran, Chief Operating Officer at Xceedance, said artificial intelligence is a multiplier, and if operations are fragile, AI multiplies fragility. “But if operations are strong, AI multiplies speed, accuracy and growth,” he said. Following are excerpts from an interview.

Issues & Answers: Asset Management: Yield of Dreams: Amar Reganti, Fixed Income and Global Insurance Strategist at Wellington Management, argues that while insurers are benefiting from higher yields right now, they should ensure that they are getting diversification across their entire spectrum of investments. Following are excerpts from a recent conversation with Reganti.

Issues & Answers: Brokers: Broker Relationships: Aaron Hillebrandt, Principal and Consulting Actuary for Pinnacle Actuarial Resources, spoke with Best’s Review about the importance of brokers and broker relationships. Following are excerpts from an interview.

Leading the Charts: Preferred Podcaster Profiles in Risk Leads List: Insurance Journal tops the list of AM Best preferred publishers based on July reported traffic from web analytics provider Semrush.

Life Insurance: Meanwhile CEO: Bitcoin Drives Innovation, New Opportunities in Life Insurance Market: Traditional financial institutions and life insurers are discovering the value of bitcoin and how it can drive their markets, according to Zac Townsend, co-founder and chief executive officer of Meanwhile.

Preferred Bloggers: No ‘Puffery’ Permitted: Blog Founder Aims for Sharpened Thought Leadership: Adil Husain says The Intelligence Council developed a P/C blog that targets an audience looking for insights and business recommendations.

Preferred Influencers : Think Insurance’s YouTube Channel Grants Advice About Property/Casualty Coverages: Host and content creator Mark Flockhart produces a stream of content reaching nearly 37,000 subscribers, while supporting his agency’s growth.

Preferred Podcasters: Predict & Prevent Podcast Shows How Technology Shapes the Insurance Industry: Host Peter Miller, president of The Institutes, and podcast guests from various lines of insurance discuss how technology can be employed to benefit the industry.

Preferred Publishers: Commercial Risk’s Global Reach Boils Down Coverage to Essentials: Commercial Risk’s approach is focused on what specifically matters in the insurance industry. The magazine’s readership doesn’t have time to talk to the experts, its editor says.

State Rate Filings: Maryland Private Passenger Auto Approved Rate Filings by Overall Effect With Increases of 22.50% or Greater: Based on an effective date beginning Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025.

State Rate Filings: Maryland Regulator: Drivers Who Choose Telematics See Variety of Outcomes: More than half of Maryland drivers who use automobile insurance telematics saw change in their premiums in recent years, according to Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant.

Technology: AM Best: AI Model Poisoning Emerges as New Threat to Insurance Data Integrity: Understanding the risks of model poisoning, a form of AI manipulation in which attackers subtly corrupt training data, is essential for safeguarding technological initiatives, according to AM Best Director Edin Imsirovic.

Technology: It’s Not Just AI: Tech Advancements Are Boosting Insurance Industry’s Future: While artificial intelligence looms as the biggest transformational upgrade for the industry, insurers are discovering other technological steps that can be taken at this very moment with items such as sensors and new health screenings.

Trending: Best’s News: Latest Global Brokers Ranking Tops the List of Trending Articles in Best’s Review for Second Month: Other popular stories include a feature about insurers maintaining a Best’s Financial Strength Rating of A or better for at least 50, 75 and 100 years.

Trending: Best’s Research: Trending Research Includes Reports on Reinsurance and Asset Management Outsourcing: Other trending research includes reports on individual annuity surrenders and the U.S. homeowners insurance market.

Underwriting & Loss Control: Online Gaming: Internet Presence Ups the Ante for Risk, Liability: Best’s Underwriting Reports and Best’s Loss Control Reports provide insights into the risks and lines of coverage for online betting operations.

What AM Best Says: AM Best: Momentum Continues for Dedicated Reinsurance Capital: AM Best continues to see pricing discipline across many lines, making the sector more attractive for shareholders and internal capital deployment that has grown to $500 billion, analysts say.