2026 Executive Outlook | Terri O’Brien, Équité Association

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) promise for fraud detection is compelling. It’s fast and capable of uncovering patterns across vast amounts of data.

It’s a powerful tool for both insurance fraud investigators and criminals alike.

In many ways, fraud is the property and casualty (P&C) insurance industry’s most consistent pressure test. As digital tools such as AI become more accessible, criminal organizations are operating like professional enterprises. Through AI, the mechanics of insurance fraud are no longer constrained by human capacity or the number of hours in a day. Criminals have expanded into professional, coordinated operations, enabled by technology.

Organized insurance crime has evolved, becoming a reliable revenue stream that sustains a broader and more dangerous criminal ecosystem. It funds other serious crimes, including those involving guns and drugs. These crimes increasingly cross geographical and organizational boundaries, facilitated by stolen data and false identities designed to escape traditional safeguards.

In an economy that never stands still, the risk of not using AI isn’t just about falling behind – it’s about being led off course. Technology evolves and criminals adapt. New vulnerabilities are emerging faster than ever.As criminals make AI their full-time job, we must make it ours – investing in the knowledge, infrastructure and talent to ensure this technology works for crime prevention, not deception.Our investment in AI is not for convenience, but for resilience and for the protection of our industry.

But as we integrate these technologies, the real value of AI depends on how we apply it. We must harness human expertise and advanced technology, share intelligence across insurers, and strengthen our collaboration with law enforcement and regulators. Together, we are building a connected system that is resilient, adaptive and relentless in the fight against fraud.