How Insurers are Placing Big Bets on AI: Insights from Accenture

New research from Accenture reveals that insurance executives are planning to increase their investment in artificial intelligence (AI) in 2026, despite facing a significant skills gap within insurance organizations. The report, based on a survey of 3,650 C-suite leaders across 20 industries and 20 countries, shows that 90% of the 218 insurance executives surveyed intend to spend more on AI in the coming year. Moreover, 85% view AI not merely as a cost-cutting tool but as a mechanism for revenue expansion.

While companies are eager to invest in AI for growth, 35% of leaders believe that effective progress depends on improving their core data strategies and digital capabilities. Alarmingly, 54% of employees reported that low-quality or misleading AI outputs diminish AI’s benefits, leading to decreased productivity and wasted time.

The survey also suggests that AI adoption is moving beyond pilot projects to enterprise-wide implementations. As of now, 34% of insurance firms are deploying AI agents across multiple functions, indicating a shift towards more operational integration and away from isolated tests. Approximately one-third of senior executives are regularly utilizing generative AI, which is influencing workflows and strategic decisions across organizations.

Despite these advancements, under 10% of companies are redesigning employee roles to adapt to AI integration. Many employees feel ill-prepared for these technological changes; only 40% believe their training has adequately equipped them for new AI-related responsibilities, and a mere 20% feel they have a say in how AI impacts their jobs. The use of AI tools among employees has dropped significantly, with only 39% experimenting with AI on their own—a decline of 15 percentage points since summer 2025.

Despite concerns about an impending AI bubble, confidence among insurance executives remains robust, with 47% indicating they would increase AI expenditures even if a bubble were to burst, while 37% would revise their recruitment strategies. However, 6% said they would decrease investments significantly, and 22% would reduce them somewhat.

Accenture’s findings highlight a pressing challenge: while executives recognize the potential of AI, they face significant hurdles including skill shortages and insufficient continuous learning opportunities. Only 24% of respondents have established ongoing learning programs related to AI, and just 5% are modifying job roles to facilitate AI adoption.

There is a clear disconnect between leadership and employee perceptions of AI readiness. While many executives believe accelerated access to skilled talent would enhance AI implementation, employees express concerns over their job security and organization’s adaptability to change. A decline in job security sentiment is notable, with only 48% of employees feeling secure in their roles, down from 59% the previous summer.

Overall, approximately two-thirds of executives plan to prioritize investments in digital technologies and AI. Despite high levels of executive optimism, a gap remains between leaders’ perspectives and employees’ confidence, particularly concerning economic disruptions. Executives largely anticipate improved revenues and recruitment, while many employees are skeptical about their organizations’ ability to manage the transitions brought on by AI.

In conclusion, although the potential of AI is recognized, there is a critical need for organizations to bridge the gap between technology and workforce needs to ensure successful adoption and integration.

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