Currently 31% of Agencies Surveyed Are Not Using AI at All
More agencies are going all-in on AI in 2026, according to a new report from the Big I’s Agents Council for Technology. Two-thirds of independent insurance agencies surveyed said they planned to increase their use of AI over the coming year. Despite this lofty goal, however, the survey noted that 31% of agencies reported they are not currently using AI, while another 33% described themselves as “just experimenting.” Only 8% said AI is embedded in their daily workflows.
“The findings of the report highlight a pivotal moment for independent agencies, with growing AI interest signaling momentum, long-term success hinges on clearer governance, stronger training and more integrated technology strategies,” says Kasey Connors, executive director of the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT).
The study, entitled “2026 Big ‘I’ Agents Council for Technology Tech Trends Report”, was released by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT) on February 19th, and is based on a national survey conducted by the Big “I” via email, to determine the current usage of AI in agencies. Among the survey results, 38% of agencies said they are “very likely” and 30% “somewhat likely” to expand their use of AI in the coming year. Nineteen percent said they are not likely to increase AI usage.
Key findings from the report
Adoption Driven by Efficiency, Productivity
Operational efficiency and staff productivity were cited as the primary drivers for AI adoption.
- 60% identified operational efficiency as an expected benefit.
- 52% cited staff productivity.
- 21% pointed to improved customer experience.
- 17% expect revenue growth.
- 13% cited risk reduction or compliance benefits.
- 23% said they were not sure what benefits to expect.
The most common tools in use reflect early-stage experimentation:
- 45% use ChatGPT or other public large language models.
- 20% use policy comparison tools.
- 18% use AI-enabled marketing tools.
- 13% use AI chatbots or virtual assistants.
- 13% use document or data extraction tools.
- 30% reported using no AI tools.
Governance Gaps and Compliance Concerns
Despite growing interest, the report found significant governance gaps. Fifty-five percent of agencies do not have a written AI use policy. Another 23% have a policy in development, while only 13% have adopted a formal AI policy.
Data privacy and compliance risks were the top concern, cited by 24% of respondents. Inaccurate outputs followed at 22%. Other concerns included losing the human touch (17%) and not knowing how to apply AI (16%). Eleven percent reported no major concerns.
“Across our research and conversations with technology leaders, the same priorities continue to surface: responsible AI use, stronger data management and security, and protecting the human element that defines the independent agency channel,” added Connors. “The agencies that strike the right balance between innovation and trust will have a clear advantage as AI adoption accelerates.”
Technology Complexity Slows Scaling
The report also underscored broader technology challenges that complicate AI implementation.
When asked to identify their top tech-related challenge:
- 22% cited keeping up with the pace of technology change.
- 16% pointed to a lack of automation and process.
- 16% said they struggle with too many disconnected systems.
- 9% referenced changing customer expectations.
- 8% cited rising compliance or cybersecurity risk.
- 6% said they feel overwhelmed with vendor options.
“AI is entering agencies at a time when many are already struggling with disconnected systems and limited automation. That complexity makes it harder to move from experimentation to meaningful impact,” Connors said. “What we hear consistently is that agents aren’t worried about the price of AI—they’re worried about the cost of getting it wrong. Data privacy, compliance, and accuracy have to be addressed before agencies are comfortable scaling AI use.”
The report was based on a national email survey of independent agency members of varying sizes conducted by the Big “I.” For those interested in accessing the free report, it can be downloaded on the Big I website, by filling out a form at The Big “I” | The Association for Independent Insurance Agents.
