NTT DATA Insurtech Global Outlook 2026: Insurance Faces an Inflection Point as Risk Outpaces Resilience

• Cyber protection is now single largest source of uninsured risk, projected to reach over $700 billion by 2030
• US insurance IPOs reached a 20-year high, while debt surpasses equity funding
• Insurers struggle to scale AI solutions despite employees adopting them

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, today announced its latest Insurtech Global Outlook 2026 report, finding the insurance industry is at a structural inflexion point due to growing uninsured losses and liability claims. The report delivers a clear message: risk is accelerating and standing still is no longer an option.

The report finds that cybersecurity is now the top business insurance risk with uninsured losses in the sector projected to rise from $171 billion in 2023 to over $700 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, climate related uninsured losses such as extreme weather, floods and wildfires, now total $180 billion and liability claims have risen by 57%.

In the face of this increasingly volatile market, building AI-native and agentic operations could deliver cost savings in automation and process optimization of up to 35% for insurers. There is, however, a bottleneck. Only 22% of insurers have scaled AI to the production phase, even as 66% of the insurance workforce has adopted AI tools. The main constraints are not technology-related; they are related to trust, governance and operating models that were not designed for AI.

In addition, the report finds US insurance IPOs are at a 20-year high and startups are borrowing more as debt financing reaches $9.5 billion, surpassing equity funding.

To help insurers address these challenges the report highlights four key findings and offers actionable guidance to capitalize on the opportunities they present:

• Build resilience into operating models: As risks grow faster than insured capacity, insurers must shift from reactive payouts to continuous risk detection, decisioning and prevention using data, AI and simulation.
• Deploy responsible AI at scale: To promote adoption, AI‑native, agentic operations require explainability, compliance and human accountability built in from the start.
• Deliver empathetic, prevention-first AI-native customer experiences: Hyper personalization is growing at 35%+ CAGR and 67% of employers are increasing prevention spending, reflecting demand for empathetic, prevention first insurance.
• Build value through ecosystems: Partner ecosystems, supported by open standards and regulation-ready infrastructure, are invaluable drivers of growth, with the embedded insurance market having exceeded $116 billion in 2025.

“The insurance industry is facing structural shifts in the face of unprecedented market volatility and uncertainty. There are, however, clear opportunities for insurers to embrace AI-driven solutions to bolster trust and resilience,” said Bruno Abril, Global Head of Insurance, NTT DATA, Inc. “In this report, we identify the key shifts that are shaping insurance in 2026 and translate them into actionable imperatives that can help insurers build long-term value for their businesses, their customers and society.”

About the Report

The Insurtech Global Outlook 2026 is based on analysis of industry data, market trends and risk indicators from leading global sources, including insurer disclosures, third-party research and NTT DATA insights, covering the period 2023–2025.

To read the full report, visit: Insurtech Global Outlook

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion business and technology services leader, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the world’s leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with unmatched capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers and application services. Our consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 70 countries. We also offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers as well as established and start-up partners. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion each year in R&D. Visit us at nttdata.com.