KBC tests artificial intelligence for insurance claims

A Belgian bank has begun using artificial intelligence to replace the human processing of insurance claims - and the results have been encouraging.

KBC said it conducted a successful experiment in its motor insurance division, where it hopes to fully implement the technology within a year.

In the test, a computer was trained to process car insurance claims, with access to a database of tens of thousands of previous claims for reference. Its work was compared with that of a human insurance manager.

The bank says artificial intelligence can be used to speed up the handling of basic claims, freeing up humans to work on more complex cases and quality control.

"We will still need staff, but perhaps with different skillsets," said KBC insurance director Hans Verstaete. The Bulgarian branch of KBC has taken the test a step further - sending out drones to inspect damage in some insurance cases.