Versicherer: Allianz-Manager warnt: „KI-Risiken nicht vollständig versicherbar“

Allianz Commercial's CEO Thomas Lillelund warns that artificial intelligence (AI) risks may not be fully insurable, particularly for large-scale damages affecting many customers simultaneously. He emphasizes the growing dependence on a few AI model providers, which could increase in the future. In such cases, if an AI provider fails or limits its services, numerous businesses could be affected, potentially disrupting critical business processes.

Lillelund refers to these risks as cumulative risks. Other insurers, like Clemens Jungsthöfel of Hannover Rück, also express concerns about economic dependence on digital infrastructure due to increased AI adoption. Allianz Commercial has established an internal center to investigate AI-related damages and identify potential cumulative risks under the brand Allianz Commercial.

Lillelund believes that AI risks could eventually become a separate insurance sector. The Allianz Commercial CEO further explains that AI changes the risk profile of companies in three ways: causing direct damage, indirectly triggering damages, and exacerbating existing risks. These risks are just one of several significant threats to Allianz Commercial clients, alongside climate change, cyberattacks, supply chain disruptions, and operational disruptions.

He notes that geopolitical tensions are the new normal, and risk complexity is increasing. Current analysis by Swiss Re and the London School of Economics supports this. AI and supply chains have become critical junctions. Allianz Commercial itself utilizes AI to streamline its operations, reducing the time for insurance policies from 20 minutes to two and the response time for complex cases from five days to one.

Lillelund emphasizes the importance of increased AI usage within the company to free up employees for growth strategies and international expansion, particularly in complex specialty risk areas. However, the industry's insurance premiums are currently decreasing due to competition from large brokers. Despite this, Lillelund remains optimistic about Allianz Commercial's future.