Log in / My SOA

Actuarial Mindsets for Leading in the AI Era: An Expert Panel Discussion

January 2026

Author

Ronald L. Poon Affat, FSA, FIA, C.Act, MAAA, CFA, HIBA

Executive Summary

This report summarizes insights from a panel of actuarial experts representing academia, insurance, reinsurance, brokerage, and risk consulting. The group was convened to understand at a profession-wide level which enduring mindsets and qualities actuaries will likely need and want to cultivate as Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes a routine part of actuarial workflows. The discussion focused on identifying the traits that help actuaries adapt to changing tools and evolving analytical environments — qualities such as curiosity, disciplined thinking, the ability to frame problems clearly, and the capacity to integrate new capabilities without losing sight of core professional responsibilities. By drawing on perspectives across practice areas, the panel sought to articulate a forward-looking view of how actuaries can continue to add value as their work is increasingly supported, accelerated, and reshaped by AI.

The work was also motivated by a broader concern: as AI becomes more capable, actuarial decisions continue to affect people directly — claimants, policyholders, and others relying on professional advice. AI cannot interpret these human dimensions on its own, which means actuaries must continue to apply empathy, contextual understanding, and sound judgment when using automated tools. This report therefore examines the capabilities and habits needed to ensure that increasingly technical workflows remain aligned with real-life consequences.

It also examines the capabilities and professional habits shaping actuarial work as advanced analytical systems become embedded in day-to-day practice. The emphasis is on how actuaries think, decide, and communicate in environments where automation can accelerate insight while also introducing new forms of uncertainty.

The discussion further considers how responsibility evolves when established standards develop more slowly than the tools in use, highlighting where core principles remain consistent across practice areas and where specific contexts influence their application.

The panel additionally reflected on how actuarial training and early-career development may need to adapt as increasingly capable systems become widely accessible. Attention was given to how foundational skills are built, how they can be reinforced, and what they may require as the broader environment and toolset continue to evolve.

KEY LEARNINGS

• To maintain professional standards, AI-ready actuaries will maintain accountability, treating AI as informative rather than authoritative. They interpret outputs cautiously, apply judgment, and preserve the ability to explain how and why decisions were made.

• Responsible AI use was described as applying disciplined skepticism without becoming obstructionist, supported by clear documentation, governance awareness, and attention to fairness. These principles apply across all practice areas, regardless of data type or modeling framework.

  • Apprenticeship is thought to be most effective when prioritizing the development of deep understanding. Early-career actuaries can benefit from opportunities to cultivate professional judgment, explore models, and learn to challenge outputs constructively, helping them avoid over-reliance on automated answers that lack underlying reasoning.
  • Humility is believed to be a core professional trait in the AI era. This includes recognizing the limits of our own expertise, staying open to learning from adjacent fields, and acknowledging when peer perspectives or external insights are needed to refine their thinking.
  • Peer review is considered to retain central importance as tools evolve. The ability for one actuary to review, interrogate, and understand another actuarial analysis remains essential for quality control, accountability, and professional credibility, and becomes even more critical when AI-generated content enters the workflow.

Material

Actuarial Mindsets for Leading in the AI Era

Suggested Citation

Poon Affat, Ronald L. Actuarial Mindsets for Leading in the AI Era: An Expert Panel Discussion. Society of Actuaries Research Institute, January 2026. https://www.soa.org/resources/research-reports/2026/actuarial-ai-mindsets-leadership/

Acknowledgements

The researchers' deepest gratitude goes to those without whose efforts this project could not have come to fruition:

The Expert Panel participants and others for their diligent work overseeing questionnaire development, analyzing, and discussing respondent answers, and reviewing and editing this report for accuracy and relevance.

  • Dave Ingram, CERA, FRM, PRM, FSA, MAAA – Risk Management Actuary, SOA Board Member
  • Shane Leib, FSA, MAAA – Associate Teaching Professor, University of Notre Dame
  • Jason Reed, FSA, MS, MAAA – Senior Director, Advanced Analytics, UnitedHealthCare
  • William White, FIA, FNZSA – Director, Modelling AI, Aon
  • Derek Kueker, FSA – SVP, Chief Operating Officer, RGA
  • Ronald Poon-Affat (Moderator), FSA, FIA, C.Act, MAAA, CFA, HIBA – Independent Board Member, Consultant

At the Society of Actuaries Research Institute:

  • Korrel Crawford, Senior Research Administrator
  • R. Dale Hall, FSA, MAAA, CFA, Managing Director of Research

Questions or Comments?

Give us your feedback! Take a short survey on this report. Take Survey

If you have comments or questions, please send an email to Research@soa.org