The Hartford Insurance Group Touts AI Push, Double-Digit Property Growth at UBS Conference

Core Insights - The Hartford is focusing on growth through technology and AI, aiming to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency while expanding its market presence in personal and property insurance lines [1][2][5][10]. Growth Strategy - The Hartford plans to expand its Agency Prevail personal lines platform from approximately 10 states to 30 states by early 2027 [1][4]. - The company is targeting a double-digit growth rate in property underwriting, which currently stands at about $3.3 billion, into 2026 [2][4]. - The Hartford aims to grow its small-business E&S binding book by about 10% next year [4][14]. Technology and AI Initiatives - The Hartford is investing in "tech-enabled, AI-enabled" capabilities, having trained over 6,000 employees and partnered with Google for a three-year rollout of productivity tools [5][7]. - The company is focusing on personal productivity tools and end-to-end workflow redesign across underwriting, operations, and claims [6][8]. - Early evidence of AI's effectiveness is promising, particularly in small and middle market businesses, with significant automation already in place [9][10]. Market Position and Pricing Strategy - The Hartford is emphasizing margin discipline as property pricing softens, while liability pricing remains strong [3][11]. - The company views the insurance market as consisting of "micro cycles," with a focus on small and middle market accounts that are performing better than large accounts [12][13]. - The Hartford is less focused on shared-and-layered business and plans to pull back in certain E&S and large property areas [12]. Regulatory and Competitive Landscape - The Hartford is navigating political and regulatory pressures regarding affordability in personal lines, citing Florida and California as examples of ineffective price control measures [16]. - The company believes that sustained investment in AI will differentiate it from competitors, positioning it in the "have" category for AI adoption [10]. Financial Performance and Capital Management - The Hartford expects to generate strong returns and excess capital, with preferred uses of this capital being dividend increases and share buybacks [18][19]. - In group benefits, the company has outperformed expectations related to incidence and recovery rates, indicating a strong strategic fit for its underwriting business [17].