Description: Letter from the editor, outlining the theme and providing a brief description of each article within this edition of NewsDirect.

Description: This article, directed at actuaries, will explain the basics of blockchain in very simple terms and we will then examine some UK/European-based use cases where blockchain is already being used or developed.

Description: The journey for microinsurance, nowadays called inclusive insurance, started a long time ago and is not complete in the majority of the low-income and low middle-income markets. When seeking to enhance inclusive insurance markets, it is useful and necessary to have a good understanding because it entails a different treatment of customers, distribution, products, pricing, client management, premium collection, claims declaration and settlement, and reporting.

Description: A description of Data Science best practice tools and how they can apply to general actuarial work.

Description: Starting a company can be challenging, and growing a company is even more challenging. There is no simple template for success. The panel, who each founded their own companies, will discuss their experiences growing these businesses, including hiring, challenges working with large companies, managing IP, fundraising and marketing. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and shape the conversation.

Description: Explore an overview of ChatGPT and Large Language Models (LLM) and the strengths and weaknesses of ChatGPT. We will discuss ramifications, including accuracy, privacy, copyright, bias, and intellectual property concerns, as well as potential use cases.

Description: The life insurance industry has experienced dramatic changes since the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020. Growing competition, a rise in online shopping, and the impact of COVID-19 have all led to an increase in contactless and completely digitized life insurance options. At Policygenius, we wanted to dig deeper into these big industry changes and better understand how they affect life insurance buyers. What our 2022 life insurance trend report found was a changing industry, making tremendous strides, and creating even better pricing and policy options for customers.

Description: Digital savvy consumers are demanding a change in the way they engage with their insurance carriers. As smartphone owners utilize their devices for financial management more than ever, insurance carriers aim to create a similar seamless digital strategy, offering customers a personalized experience on multiple platforms. Cloud-based applications also enable productivity, accountability and innovation in the insurance industry. Discover avenues of customer engagement through digital platforms, including new technologies and products, and why the value of data and data science is critical for business, such as adaptability, marketing and insightful pricing. Presenters will also touch on: - managing retention and lapses through data-driven continuous improvement cycling - high-level system architectures illustrating how multiple applications (front/mid/back office systems) will integrate with each other and share connected data example data points being captured within various marketing systems - data collection within various digital platforms - data science applications that help with business growth, retention, lapsation, effectiveness and cross-sell/up-sell opportunities, and the implications to actuarial functions - value and risk to carriers in the new digital paradigm

Description: Investigate the importance of collaboration with accounting, underwriting, sales, marketing and other professions as an actuary when you attend this webcast. Cross-functional positions can cause unique challenges to arise, like various experts attempting to balance growth and profitability. Discover an opportunity to learn about relevant ASOPs and dive deeper into contemporary examples that highlight specific professionalism issues that can develop.

Description: Starting a company can be challenging, and growing a company is even more challenging. There is no simple template for success. The panel, who each founded their own companies, will discuss their experiences growing these businesses, including hiring, challenges working with large companies, managing IP, fundraising and marketing. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and shape the conversation.