Zurich’s Agentic AI Hyper Challenge Generates Over 200 Prototypes to Accelerate Insurance Innovation

Zurich Agentic AI initiative has reached a major milestone with the completion of its first Hyper Challenge phase. As part of the Zurich Innovation Championship, more than 1,000 participants created more than 200 prototypes that addressed important use cases in financial reporting, claims, and underwriting by utilising agentic AI.

Over 1,000 participants across 40+ countries developed more than 200 working prototypes in just 4 weeks, addressing real-world use cases across four challenges: underwriting, marketing and sales, claims, and actuarial analysis in financial reporting. Potential use cases cover a wide functional spectrum – including AI agents that automate research, analysis and risk triage for small commercial specialty lines; support claims liability decisions for motor and liability lines of business; and intelligent systems that generate financial reports, manage SEO, and optimize marketing campaign performance. 

The Hyper Challenge is part of Zurich’s global startup program, the Zurich Innovation Championship, and reflects the Group’s unique approach to open innovation – bringing together internal teams, external engineers, startups, and established technology companies in a hackathon style format to validate how Agentic AI can enhance decision-making and improve customer experience, while driving efficiencies – with human touch remaining critical throughout. 

“We’ve seen incredible engagement – from our global business units to our external partners,” said Antony Elliott, Head of Digital R&D. “This initiative is a powerful example of how we can quickly get hands on with emerging technologies to strengthen our capabilities and better serve our customers.” 

“These results are a strong foundation,” added Joel Agard, Group Head of Innovation. “They demonstrate the potential of Agentic AI to reshape insurance processes through practical co-creation – while keeping the positive impact for our customers and our business at the center throughout.” 

40 teams will be shortlisted to advance to the next phase, with final selections expected in September. Winning prototypes that demonstrate clear business value and return on investment will be further developed for potential implementation.

The Zurich Agentic AI Hyper Challenge demonstrated how co-creation between startups and insurers can rapidly test AI solutions that improve efficiency and decision-making.