Manulife has been ranked highest among life insurers for artificial intelligence (AI) maturity in the inaugural Evident AI Index for Insurance.
The Canadian insurer also placed among the top five across the broader insurance industry and is one of only three companies to appear in the top 10 of all four categories measured – talent, innovation, leadership and transparency.
The index, developed by AI benchmarking platform Evident, evaluates AI maturity across 30 major insurers in North America and Europe, including those in the life, property and casualty, composite and reinsurance sectors. It is the first comparative measure of how insurance firms are adopting and scaling AI technology.
Manulife’s performance was particularly strong in the Leadership and Transparency categories, indicating a combination of senior-level engagement and stated commitments to responsible AI practices. The company has cited its Responsible AI Principles as a guide for how AI is integrated into its operations globally.
Phil Witherington, Manulife’s president and CEO, said the company’s early investment in AI has contributed to its performance in the index.
“We were an early adopter of AI and have worked to embed it across our business,” he said in a statement. “This recognition provides confidence that we are positioned to benefit from the technology in the years ahead.”
Jodie Wallis, global chief AI officer at Manulife, noted that the company is focused on using AI in practical ways to support both customer service and internal efficiency. “We’ve integrated AI into the core of our operations to drive results,” she said.
According to Evident Co-CEO Alexandra Mousavizadeh, Manulife’s consistent performance across all metrics reflects a long-term strategic approach.
“As the leading life insurer on our index, Manulife is scaling its AI capabilities in a way that sets a benchmark for the industry,” she said.
Manulife expects to generate a threefold return on its digital investments over five years to 2027. In 2024, the company reported $600 million in benefits linked to its global digital customer initiatives.
