In this episode we dive into a frank conversation with Sasha Haco, CEO of Unitary AI, as she unpacks the realities behind automation in insurance. Discover why true transformation isn’t about flashy tech but about smart, practical integration: start small, leverage human-in-the-loop models, and sidestep common adoption errors. Explore which admin-heavy workflows—from claims to underwriting—are ripe for change and how to unlock quick wins. Plus, Sasha shares hard-won advice for women building careers in tech-driven insurance. In a world buzzing with AI hype, get clear-eyed guidance on what works, what doesn’t, and why the human element still matters most. The urgency? Competitive advantage is compounding; don’t get left behind.

Key Quotes:

“AI is not the right tool for the job in every situation... most businesses wouldn't tolerate a 40% accurate process, which means that AI isn't the right solution the whole way."
"The businesses that really embrace automation and change and AI are going to be able to scale in a way they've never seen before, and without having to scale their headcount."
"We're an AI company and use AI every single day, but I think AI is not the right tool always for the job... there's definitely a place for people. We're not going to replace them."
"I think people need to be careful about confusing automation with AI because actually AI... these models are inherently probabilistic. They're basically making a guess—and a good guess, usually—at every step."

Resources:

www.unitary.ai

https://uk.linkedin.com/company/unitaryai

About the Guest:

Sasha Haco is the co-founder and CEO of Unitary. Unitary automates repetitive manual work with Virtual Agents: robust AI workers that handle complex tasks for operations teams directly in their tools. They support MGAs, brokers and carriers to achieve rapid ROI with 50% cost savings in just a few weeks. Before founding Unitary, Sasha completed a PhD where she worked with Stephen Hawking in Cambridge to solve the ‘information paradox’ of black holes.

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sashahaco

About the Host:

Mike's extensive expertise in the insurance sector has allowed him to witness and adapt to the dynamic shifts within the industry. Throughout his 40-year career, he has navigated the traditional realms of insurers, brokers, and MGAs (Managing General Agents) across both Commercial and Personal Lines markets.

He has held Executive positions at AXA, Midas, UK General and most recently Insurtech start-up Qlaims before becoming Chief Executive Officer at the MGAA in September 2020.

Mike is excited about the new MGAA podcast series, which aims to showcase key figures in the UK insurance industry and beyond, providing insight into the challenges and opportunities that the MGA industry encounters.

Mike's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-keating-230b8424/

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