AI meets insurance, transforming the industry with intelligent technology

Gary Tessendorf, regional director at Sapiens, shares how artificial intelligence is revolutionising the insurance industry across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing from real-world deployments, the interview highlights: Embedded AI Across the value chain: AI is no longer an add-on - it’s integrated into core systems like underwriting, claims, and policy administration Real-Time underwriting & personalisation: Tools now offer brokers a 360-degree customer view, enabling tailored pricing and faster decisions Data migration breakthroughs: AI is de-risking complex legacy data migrations, with South African insurers leading global examples Local market dynamics: Insurers are pursuing both large-scale transformations and agile, modular experiments to test and scale AI capabilities Ethical & responsible AI use: Focus is on optimisation, not downsizing, with embedded guardrails ensuring safe deployment Solving real problems: From fraud detection to dynamic pricing, AI is being applied to high-impact use cases with measurable results Closing the skills gap: Demand for AI talent is growing, and Sapiens is helping bridge the gap with global expertise AIE’s Role in Innovation: The African Insurance Exchange fosters meaningful dialogue, partnerships, and strategic planning Conclusion: AI is not a future concept -it’s a present-day differentiator. Sapiens is helping insurers unlock its full potential with the right tools and guidance.