Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Lakeshore West Ballroom
Michael Vermillion
VP and General Manager, Insurance & Healthcare
J.D. Power
Alex Castrounis has the AI trifecta:
He teaches AI at Kellogg, helps companies unlock AI value through WhyofAI, and literally wrote the playbook on AI in business.
The insurance industry is at a pivotal moment, where AI is no longer just a tool but a transformative force reshaping customer expectations and redefining operational efficiencies. In this opening keynote, we’ll explore how AI is driving the next era of customer experience — enhancing personalization, streamlining customer facing operations, and enabling brands to anticipate needs before they arise. From predictive analytics to generative AI, we’ll discuss what’s possible today and what’s on the horizon, equipping industry leaders with the insights they need to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Alex Castrounis
Founder & CEO at Why of AI, NU Kellogg MBAi Professor, Author |
Former INDYCAR Engineer, Race Strategist, and Data Scientist
In an industry increasingly shaped by AI, the role of the local insurance agent is evolving—not disappearing. This dynamic panel brings together some of the top-selling insurance agents in the country to share how they are harnessing AI to deepen client relationships, streamline operations, and drive record-breaking sales. From intelligent prospecting to AI-assisted customer interactions, these industry leaders will reveal how technology is amplifying—not replacing—the human touch that remains essential to trust and long-term success. Join us for an inspiring discussion on how AI is empowering agents to be more proactive, insightful, and indispensable than ever before.
AI is revolutionizing underwriting, bringing unprecedented speed, accuracy, and insight to risk assessment. But with these advancements come new challenges and opportunities. This expert panel will explore how AI-driven underwriting is reshaping the industry—enhancing decision-making, improving pricing precision, and redefining the role of underwriters themselves. Join top industry experts as they discuss the balance between automation and human expertise, the ethical considerations of AI-driven risk models, and how insurers can harness AI to drive smarter, more personalized coverage. Whether you're an underwriter, executive, or technology leader, this conversation will provide critical insights into the future of underwriting in the AI era.
AI is transforming insurance at an unprecedented pace, but how should a leading carrier navigate this shift? In this exclusive fireside chat, the CEO of a major insurance company will share a firsthand perspective on the strategic decisions shaping AI adoption at scale. How fast should insurers move on emerging AI technologies? What does it take to drive organizational change and ensure employees embrace innovation? And most critically, how will AI redefine the consumer experience? This candid discussion will provide executives with a high-level perspective on balancing innovation with operational excellence—and positioning their organizations for long-term success in an AI-driven world.
Speakers to be announced.
AI is not just transforming insurance processes—it’s reshaping the workforce itself. This forward-looking panel will examine the rise of AI agents, the evolving criteria for recruiting and hiring in an AI-driven industry, and the leadership strategies needed to foster AI adoption across organizations. Industry experts will share insights on how insurers can strike the right balance between human expertise and AI automation, empower employees with AI-enhanced tools, and build a culture that embraces innovation. Whether you're an executive, HR leader, or technology strategist, this discussion will offer a roadmap for navigating the workforce shifts that AI is bringing to the insurance industry.
AI is reshaping the competitive landscape in insurance, and while startups move fast to capitalize on emerging opportunities, legacy carriers must balance innovation with scale, compliance, and existing infrastructure. In this exclusive fireside chat, a top venture capitalist specializing in InsurTech will share insights on how AI is fueling disruption, where investors see the biggest opportunities, and what large insurers can learn from the agility of startups. How can established carriers foster a culture of innovation, accelerate AI adoption, and compete more effectively in an evolving market? This conversation will provide executives with a strategic perspective on leveraging AI to drive transformation—before the competition does.
Michael Vermillion
VP and General Manager, Insurance & Healthcare
J.D. Power
As AI reshapes the insurance landscape, regulators, legal experts, and industry leaders must navigate a rapidly evolving framework of rules, ethics, and consumer protections. This powerhouse panel will dive into the critical questions surrounding AI regulation of insurance. How can regulations foster innovation while ensuring fairness and compliance? What new challenges do AI-driven underwriting, claims automation, and customer interactions present? Join us for an insightful discussion on the future of AI regulation and what insurers must do to stay ahead in a world where technology can move faster than the rulebook.
As AI becomes central to insurance operations, organizations must establish clear strategies for responsible deployment, risk management, and ethical oversight. This expert panel will explore how insurers are building AI governance frameworks to balance innovation with accountability. Industry leaders in AI governance will discuss key challenges, including bias mitigation, transparency, compliance, and decision-making structures that ensure AI is used effectively and fairly. How can insurers create governance models that foster trust while driving competitive advantage? Join us for an essential conversation on shaping AI policies that align with business goals, regulatory expectations, and customer needs in an increasingly AI-driven world.
AI has the potential to revolutionize insurance, but successful adoption requires more than just cutting-edge technology—it demands the right people, processes, and strategies. This panel will explore the key challenges insurers and agencies face in integrating AI, from change management and workforce readiness to operational execution and system integration. Industry leaders will also share real-world success stories and lessons learned from AI implementations that delivered measurable results. Whether you're an executive leading digital transformation or a practitioner navigating AI adoption, this session will provide actionable insights to accelerate AI’s impact within your organization.
AI is transforming the way insurance carriers and agencies interact with customers—but is the industry keeping the customer experience at the center of innovation? This panel brings together experts in customer experience to explore how AI can enhance, rather than replace, the human connection in insurance. From hyper-personalization to seamless claims processing and intelligent self-service, AI has the potential to create frictionless and more satisfying customer journeys. But where are the risks, and how can insurers ensure that AI-driven solutions truly serve the needs of policyholders? Join us for an essential conversation on how to harness AI for a smarter, more intuitive, and customer-first insurance experience.
Michael Vermillion
VP and General Manager, Insurance & Healthcare
J.D. Power
