Will AI Replace Insurance Agents? Sales vs Claims, by the Numbers

By The Professions Cloud Editors Updated October 2026 · 6 sources · 3 min read

Prices and facts checked October 13, 2026. We don't accept payment for rankings.

Short answer: agents are holding steady; claims jobs are where AI bites hardest. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects insurance sales agents to grow 3% from 2025 to 2035, about 43,100 openings a year (BLS). Its AI case studies expect fewer claims adjusters and auto damage appraisers, as AI speeds up damage assessment (BLS Monthly Labor Review).

The numbers

Sources: BLS; BLS MLR. BLS's AI exposure categories measure how much work AI could assist with and don't predict job loss (BLS).

The new threat: AI shopping agents

In October 2026, a Texas insurer let ChatGPT and Grok quote and buy auto policies in the chat (our explainer). But analysts at William Blair argue fears are overblown for now: firm quotes need paid data (up to $20 per quote), disclosures are hard to control through an AI, and commission rules weren't written for AI (PYMNTS).

What clients want

• 87% of consumers say having a human insurance agent remains important.
• 61% are more likely to choose an agent who uses AI for faster service.

Source: IA Magazine.

What agencies are doing

46% of independent agencies now use AI, up from 15% in 2024, and agency revenue rose at three in four firms (Insurance Journal).

Where agents stay essential

How to read these numbers

Two different things often get blurred together in "will AI replace" headlines. The first is exposure: how much of an occupation's day-to-day work an AI system could assist with or complete. BLS builds its exposure categories from five research sources, three that compare AI capabilities with job tasks and two based on how people actually use AI tools, and ranks every occupation against the others (BLS). The second is employment: whether there will be more or fewer insurance agents in ten years. That depends on demand for the service, the economy, regulation and how firms choose to use the time AI saves.

High exposure can mean a job changes a lot while headcount holds steady, because the freed-up time goes into work clients value more. Low exposure doesn't guarantee growth either. That's why this guide looks at both, alongside what clients and the profession itself are saying.

Skills that will matter most through 2035

• Coverage advice: spotting gaps, endorsements and exclusions that comparison engines miss.
• Commercial and specialty lines: complex risks still need a licensed adviser.
• Claims advocacy: helping clients through the moments that define retention.
• Running an AI-assisted agency: answering fast, quoting fast and servicing efficiently.
• Compliance: consent for AI calls and texts, and carrier AI requirements under the NAIC bulletin.

What to do about it

1. Automate the service work (AI receptionists; Epic Conductor).
2. Shift toward advice-heavy lines: commercial, life, bundles.
3. Stay compliant on AI calling (TCPA rules).

FAQ

Will AI replace insurance agents?

BLS projects 3% growth through 2035. AI pressure is stronger on claims adjusting and simple, price-driven quoting.

Which insurance jobs are most at risk from AI?

BLS case studies point to claims adjusters and auto damage appraisers.

Can AI sell insurance on its own?

In limited cases, such as one Texas insurer's ChatGPT integration, but disclosure, licensing and commission rules still assume a human.

Changelog: Oct 13, 2026: first published.