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Underwriting Evolved: A DUO Podcast

Underwriting Evolved: A DUO Podcast

By: RGA Reinsurance Group of America
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About this listen

 Step into the future of risk evaluation with Underwriting Evolved – a Digital Underwriting Optimization (DUO) podcast – and pull back the curtain on the evolving world of underwriting. Hosted by RGA's Adam Lorentzen, each episode features candid, insightful conversations with the trailblazers redefining how we assess and manage risk. Benefit from access to the minds moving the industry forward.Copyright © 2026 RGA Reinsurance Company. All Rights Reserved. Economics
Episodes
  • Executive Chef vs. Sous Chef: Where Does AI Fit?

    Executive Chef vs. Sous Chef: Where Does AI Fit?
    Jan 13 2026
    🎙️ Guests: Taylor Pickett, VP & Actuary; and Nick Kocisak, Associate Actuary, RGA 💡 Are we still the executive chef, or has AI taken over the kitchen? In this episode, Taylor Pickett and Nick Kocisak tackle one of insurance's biggest questions: how AI fits into underwriting. Spoiler alert: it's not about replacement – it's about partnership. They explore how consumer expectations have evolved, why human judgment remains irreplaceable, and how actuaries and underwriters can work together to harness AI's power. 🔍 Tune in for insights on:
    • Meeting Amazon-era expectations without sacrificing underwriting rigor
    • AI-assisted underwriting: powerful tool, not replacement
    • Breaking down silos between actuaries and underwriters
    • Skills that matter in an AI-enabled future
    A must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of AI and insurance.
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    30 mins
  • Scaling Smart: Building AI Tools That Underwriters Actually Use

    Scaling Smart: Building AI Tools That Underwriters Actually Use
    Nov 13 2025

    🎙️ Guest: Eric Westhus, Lead Data Scientist, Americas Data Solutions, RGA

    💡 Can a three-person data science team really transform how underwriters handle 1,000-page case files? What does it take to turn an AI experiment into a production tool that underwriters actually trust?

    In this episode, we sit down with Eric Westhus to explore how RGA is scaling AI tools that underwriters actually use – tools that don't replace human judgment ... but enhance it. Through his unexpected journey from outdoor ecology to data science innovation, Eric shares how his team is transforming underwriting workflows with real-world AI applications.

    🔍 Tune in for practical insights on staying ahead in digital underwriting, including:

    • Approaches for data scientists and underwriters to co-develop tools through daily feedback loops
    • The importance of customizable models tailored to underwriting needs
    • Real-world examples of fixing OCR errors and refining data strategies

    This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of AI and insurance. Eric offers practical insights into building scalable, auditable, and human-centered AI tools that solve real problems – while optimizing the underwriter's expertise.
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    26 mins
  • Training the Super Smart Child: AI's Role in Modern Underwriting

    Training the Super Smart Child: AI's Role in Modern Underwriting
    Oct 15 2025
    🎙️ Guests: Mark James and Rich Schroeder, Directors of Underwriting Innovation, RGA 💡 What happens when underwriting meets a 'super smart child' trained by AI? In this week's episode of Underwriting Evolved, Host Adam Lorentzen sits down with Mark James and Rich for an exclusive conversation on how artificial intelligence is transforming underwriting – moving beyond traditional rules engines into what they describe as a "strange Star Trek hybrid" of automation and human expertise. 🔍 Key topics covered:
    • The "super smart child" model approach to training AI systems
    • Stories like the unforgettable "tongue depressor depression" diagnosis
    • How AI processes massive 2000+ page case files
    • Treating AI like a "trained intern"
    Plus, Rich and Mark offer candid insights from RGA's frontlines of AI implementation – sharing breakthroughs, lessons learned, and a glimpse into what's next for underwriting teams. You won't want to miss this episode!
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    32 mins
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