Pacific Life, a U.S.-based provider of life insurance and annuity products, has released the results of its 2026 Underwriting Outlook Survey, providing insight into how underwriting is evolving across the life insurance industry.
Pacific Life reports that the survey was conducted during the fourth annual Underwriting Symposium in Laguna Beach, California, and gathered feedback from more than 100 underwriting and insurance senior executives.
The event brings together insurers, reinsurers and distribution partners to examine developments in risk assessment, medical advancements, digital capabilities and distribution strategies, the company said.
According to Pacific Life, the results demonstrate the growing use of AI in underwriting functions. Nearly 45% of respondents said AI is already integrated into daily workflows (20%) or used as a decision support tool (24%), while 38% said AI initiatives are still in the pilot phase.
“Underwriting is increasingly viewed as the best first place for companies to start integrating artificial intelligence,” commented Susan Ghaili, senior vice president and chief underwriter at Pacific Life. “It brings tremendous opportunity, but also a caveat: AI is accelerating the process, not redefining the industry. It’s about giving underwriters better tools so they can make faster, more informed decisions.”
Respondents see AI’s most positive impacts as speeding up underwriting decisions (40%) and better utilization of medical and third-party data (35%), while less than 6% see improved risk selection as a key benefit. Pacific Life notes that AI is seen as improving efficiency and data use, rather than replacing human judgement.
The survey results also point to ongoing concerns about underwriters. More than two-thirds of respondents (70%) expressed concerns about the long-term talent pipeline, citing an aging workforce and loss of institutional knowledge (38%), the need to balance automation with human expertise (20%), and the difficulty of attracting young talent (18%).
“This is a critical moment for our industry,” Ghaly added. “We must develop a new generation of underwriters who can embrace advanced technology without losing sight of the critical thinking and risk acumen that are at the heart of our profession.”
Pacific Life further highlighted the growing importance of structured health data in underwriting. More than half of respondents (52%) believe electronic health records are the data source likely to have the greatest impact over the next three to five years, ahead of prescription and claims data (21%) and wearable devices or continuous health monitoring (16%).
Additionally, 57% of executives expect younger customers’ expectations for faster, digital-first experiences to be the most important generational influence on the industry.
Overall, Pacific Life said the survey reflects an industry that is integrating new technologies while maintaining established underwriting practices. Companies are looking to combine improved data capabilities with experienced judgment to support more efficient processes and respond to changing customer expectations.
Pacific Life confirmed that the survey was based on feedback from 103 senior underwriting executives from multiple organizations, which was collected in person at an underwriting symposium held in Laguna Beach in February 2026.
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