Digital innovation
Rapidly increasing technological and digital innovation (“FinTech”) will have far-reaching effects on the insurance sector. FinTech presents significant opportunities for financial inclusion and policyholder value yet also poses conduct and operational risks. The rapid expansion in alternative data sources and advanced data analytics has particular impact and has the potential to disrupt the insurance market. Therefore this is a strategic theme as part of the IAIS Strategic Plan 2020-2024. The main focus of the IAIS’ activities in this area are around sharing supervisory practices and providing a platform for exchange of experiences and insights.
Supervisory practices
In 2020, the IAIS published an Issues Paper on the Use of Big Data Analytics in Insurance (see below), which explores benefits and risks for consumers resulting from the increasing use of big data analytics by insurers. The Paper acknowledges the significant benefits of advanced data analytics, including improved risk selection and pricing, more personalised and affordable insurance products, increased choices and more efficient servicing for customers. The Paper also cautions that the growing use of complex algorithms and expanding ability of insurers to access more data could create or amplify specific risks that may warrant heightened vigilance from supervisors.
Supervisors are called upon to consider collaborative and proportionate responses to these issues, maintaining a balance between supporting innovation and ensuring fair and responsible deployment of technology across the insurance value chain.
FinTech Forum
The IAIS Fintech Forum is a virtual forum of technical experts from the IAIS’ diverse membership. It serves as a platform to share practical insights and experiences on FinTech-related developments influencing the insurance sector and insurance supervisors globally.
The FinTech Forum established three dedicated workstreams to conduct targeted surveillance on the deployment of the following technology applications across the insurance sector. In December 2022, the IAIS published a report (see below) that presents the outcomes of exploratory, deep-dive analysis on these topics:
- Safe, fair and ethical adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) and the use and governance of data
- Application programming interfaces (APIs) and open data
- Distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) and blockchain
In 2023, the FinTech Forum developed two members-only reports on the application of decentralised finance (DeFi) in insurance and on AI/ML supervisory practices. These reports are part of the FinTech Forum’s ongoing efforts to facilitate knowledge exchange and promote better understanding among supervisors on FinTech-related topics. The IAIS also published a short summary of its ongoing work on AI/ML in December 2023 (see below).
In 2024, the FinTech Forum will continue to review FinTech-related developments and promote convergence and support supervisors in responding and keeping pace with these trends. In particular, the FinTech Forum will start the development of an application paper on AI/ML, in collaboration with other IAIS subcommittees. In developing the application paper, the IAIS will engage with stakeholders for input and expertise on AI/ML use cases.
Partners
Together with the A2ii and FSI, the IAIS also published in December 2022 a public note (see below) on key trends and developments relating to the deployment of Supervisory Technology (SupTech) by insurance supervisors. This note is partly based on the outcomes of a member survey of supervisory responses to FinTech developments.