After ranking among the top five companies inthe insurance industryon implementing artificial intelligence, experts from Manulife and AXA shared insights.They revealed an implementation structure, innovation and research, timeline balance and people management in the process.

AXA took first place and Manulife, the parent company of John Hancock, fifth.There were dozens of companies in the ranking.
They are part of the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Index published by Evident.

"About 10 years ago, we started building technology, data and operations in parallel," said Dr. Andreas Scherzinger.
He is Chief Data, AI and Innovation Officer at AXA, and spoke during the roundtable.

According to him, AXA's strategy is to implement artificial intelligence throughout the chain - from engineering to maintenance and control.
He noted that the objectives and expected ROI vary widely according to each specific use.

"Some lead to growth and a better customer experience. We've improved technical excellence. We're also achieving operational efficiencies."
There is still no single method for measuring returns across these different areas,” adds Scherzinger.

Manulife began its AI adventure in 2016 through the proof-of-concept phase.
That's when the company focused on machine learning, according to Jody Wallis, chief artificial intelligence officer at Manulife.Speaking at the same roundtable, Wallis explained that the process has gradually evolved and developed over the years.
Today, Manulife sees generative artificial intelligence as a “play at scale” that is a strategic priority for the future.

"It's important to invest wisely and put effort into those investments. We're in the use phase right now."
We will soon move to an open discussion about workforce transformation and real business results,” shares Wallis.

The Maturity of Artificial Intelligence in Insurance

Evident's index profiles 30 of the largest insurers in North America and Europe.
It assesses 76 indicators in four categories: talent, innovation, leadership and transparency.

AXA received the highest score – 63 points.The average score is 35.5 and the lowest is 15 points.
AXA and Manulife are among the "decisive leaders," along with Allianz (No. 2), USAA (No. 3) and Intact Financial (No. 4).

AXA ranks first in innovation and transparency, fourth in talent and third in leadership.
Only AXA, Allianz and Manulife ranked in the top 10 in all four categories at the same time.

Innovation and partnership

Scherzinger emphasized that key partnerships are important to innovation at AXA.
The company has a fund of over 700 projects and 432 academic partnerships worldwide.

Partners include the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence and technology companies such as NVIDIA.
AXA is developing a research team working on generative and spatial artificial intelligence.

AI Strategy Timeline

Both leaders explained that their teams are simultaneously working on short-term and long-term AI initiatives.
Short-term projects last four to five months, and long-term projects last up to ten years.

"Balancing short-term goals with long-term ones is an art, not a science," says Wallis.
She adds that 70% of the budget goes to quick results, and 30% to infrastructure and scientific research.

People management

Change management and training are fundamental to success.
Manulife, for example, created ChatMFC, an internal equivalent of ChatGPT, and trained its employees to use it.

The company is expanding its teams with data scientists, researchers and artificial intelligence engineers.
"I don't think there's a role that hasn't been affected by these changes," says Wallis.

Manulifewas founded in 1887 and is among Canada's oldest financial services providers.
Today it operates in 19 countries, including through John Hancock in the United States.

Evidentlyis a benchmarking and analytics company founded in 2022 in London.
It measures the maturity of AI implementation in financial services.

AXA Groupis an international insurer founded in 1921 in Paris.
The company operates in over 50 countries and offers services to individuals and corporations.

Frequently asked questions

Why AXA and Manulife Rank Among the Leaders in Insurance AI?

Answer: Both companies have been systematically investing in artificial intelligence for more than a decade.They don't apply AI in isolation, but embed it at all levels – operations, data and customer service.This creates a sustainable model rather than a short-term technological effect.It is this long-term vision that sets them apart from their competitors.

What does "full AI integration" mean in the insurance business?

Answer: This means that artificial intelligence is not a separate project, but part of the entire business architecture.It is used in risk assessment, customer service, claims processing and fraud management.So decisions become faster, more accurate and more personalized.As a result, companies achieve higher efficiency and customer loyalty.

What is the Evident AI Index?

Answer: The index measures the maturity of AI implementation in insurance companies.Talent, innovation, leadership and transparency are valued.30 of the largest insurers in Europe and North America participate in the analysis.AXA tops the ranking and Manulife enters the top 5.

How is generative artificial intelligence changing insurance?

Answer: It enables automation of analytics, service and document processing.Instead of manual processing, algorithms aggregate information and make decisions in real time.This shortens claim processing times and improves the customer experience.Companies are now using AI not just as an assistive tool, but as a strategic asset.

How is AI impacting employees in the insurance sector?

Answer: Artificial intelligence is changing almost every position in the company.That's why Manulife and AXA are investing heavily in training and in-house AI platforms.The goal is not to replace people, but to augment them with technology.New skills become key to career development.

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