Modernizing Insurance Pricing From Excel to Explainable AI  - Thomas Holmes of Akur8

Modernizing Insurance Pricing From Excel to Explainable AI - Thomas Holmes of Akur8

Author: Daniel Faggella January 12, 2026 Duration: 17:48

Today's guest is Thomas Holmes, Chief Actuary for North America at Akur8. Holmes focuses on how actuarial teams can modernize pricing and reserving with automation and AI while maintaining governance and actuarial soundness. Thomas joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to discuss why pricing and reserving modernization is hard to execute in practice, and how insurers can adopt AI with the governance and explainability actuarial teams require. The conversation also covers starting with a clear problem statement, avoiding generic "bolt-on" AI approaches, and targeting small wins that deliver measurable workflow and cycle-time improvements. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/expert2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on the 'AI in Business' podcast. This episode is sponsored by Akur8. Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.


Hosted by Daniel Faggella, The AI in Business Podcast cuts through the technical jargon to focus on what matters for leadership. This is a conversation for executives and decision-makers who know artificial intelligence is a strategic imperative but need clarity on how to actually integrate it. The focus is squarely on identifying real-world opportunities, ensuring AI projects align with broader business goals, and ultimately demonstrating a tangible return on investment. Rather than theory, each episode delivers grounded insights through interviews conducted by Emerj's research team with top AI practitioners. Their guests come directly from the trenches of major Fortune 2000 companies and pioneering unicorn startups, sharing firsthand accounts of what works. You'll hear specific use-cases, emerging trends, and the often-overlooked best practices that separate successful adoption from costly missteps. This podcast provides a direct line to the actionable knowledge needed to make informed, confident decisions about where and how to apply AI in your organization. It’s an ongoing resource for any leader looking to move beyond the hype and translate capability into concrete business advantage.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The AI in Business Podcast
Podcast Episodes