Patrick Sturgeon

Health insurance has always been a margin-sensitive industry. In the past, carriers could often differentiate through value-added wellness programs, large-scale marketing campaigns, and expanded benefit offerings. While those elements still play a role, the market has fundamentally shifted. Today, the U.S. health insurance industry is increasingly defined by cost pressure and margin management, as carriers struggle to balance rising healthcare expenses against...

Advanced analytics for fraud detection and risk scoring are no longer the domain of insurtech startups alone they are table stakes. What’s new is the degree to which AI is now embedded across core carrier workflows, from underwriting and pricing to claims processing and policy servicing.

With 2026 underway, the CPG industry is already signaling its direction. Product launches are accelerating. Annual reports are clarifying priorities. Retailers are adjusting expectations. There is no shortage of information available to MI and CI teams. AI tools can organize earnings commentary, flag product launches, and summarize trends. But AI cannot uncover intent. It cannot reveal trade strategy. It cannot clarify how competitors are positioning themselves behind closed doors.