Investment managers at insurance companies are using AI more to help guide their investment decisions, according to a new global study from Ortec Finance.
The survey included managers responsible for over 10 trillion dollars in assets. It found that 45 per cent believe AI will be very important for investment strategy and asset allocation within five years, while another 48 per cent expect it to be quite important.
Almost all firms said they plan to spend more on AI, with nearly half expecting their AI budgets to grow by 75 per cent or more in the next year. Many have already increased their AI spending over the past 12 months.
Currently, 99 per cent of those surveyed use AI in some part of their investment process. Most have been using it for over a year, and about a third for more than two years. Around 60 per cent use AI to evaluate investments, 62 per cent for client engagement, and 55 per cent for marketing.
Around 41 per cent said AI adds most value in investment evaluation, while risk management was cited by 21 per cent, and 16 per cent saw marketing and client engagement as most beneficial. Meanwhile, only 12 per cent highlighted AI’s impact on reducing operational costs, and 4 per cent noted benefits in compliance and reporting.
Ortec Finance managing director UK, and head of insurance & investment Hamish Bailey says: “AI is already being used in some form by insurers and investment managers, and looks like this will continue to grow.
“Within five years AI will play a critical or highly important role in investment strategy and asset allocation for nearly all organisations surveyed, a trend clearly reflected in plans to significantly increase budgets in the next 12 months.
“Given the strategic importance placed on the role of AI, it is crucial that companies can maximise their investments with access to appropriate tools and expertise.”