Health and technology risks are no longer sidelined concerns in the corporate world. Recent findings from a World Economic Forum survey reveal that leaders from major economies are increasingly worried about issues like declining health, misinformation, and the impact of artificial intelligence. This shift marks a big change in how companies see and respond to risk.
The survey, which gathered input from over 10,000 executives across the G20, showed that extreme weather—a risk once considered critical—has fallen out of the top five short-term risks. In its place, AI-driven misinformation and disinformation have made their first appearance on the list. This change highlights the rising threat that social and technological challenges pose to businesses.
David Wainwright, the chief risk officer for Zurich Australia & New Zealand, says this trend mirrors what his company has been observing for some time. He points out that declining health and wellbeing are no longer just HR issues but major risks affecting society as a whole. Increasing cases of cancer, mental health problems, and musculoskeletal disorders show that these challenges go beyond the workplace and impact the wider community.
This rise in health problems has practical consequences. More people are falling ill or unable to work fully, which costs both individuals and the economy. At the same time, treatment expenses are rising, putting pressure on those without sufficient insurance or access to strong public healthcare. For life insurers, this trend is pushing up claims and making it harder to price group insurance and income protection fairly.
Wainwright explains that the conversation is shifting for insurers and brokers. Instead of focusing only on workplace benefits, they now must look at ways to build resilience and prevent risk on a larger scale. This means helping clients understand the bigger picture and managing these risks before they escalate.
On the technology front, executives are becoming more aware of the direct dangers posed by AI, cyber threats, and digital disruptions. The survey reveals that concerns about AI misuse, deepfakes, and attacks on critical infrastructure have pushed these risks high on the priority list for countries like the United States, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Indonesia.
For the insurance industry, this means technology risk is no longer isolated to cyber insurance. It spreads across many areas, including professional indemnity, directors and officers liability, and business interruption. Issues such as AI governance failures and operational technology breakdowns are already causing debates over what policies cover. Brokers increasingly play a crucial role, helping clients understand these changing risks and the evolving market for cyber insurance.
One key takeaway from the survey is that no single risk dominates the landscape. Economic issues, climate change, health concerns, technology threats, and social divides are all linked. Wainwright warns against focusing on just one area. Instead, businesses need to see how these risks interact and create new challenges.
The interconnected nature of these risks brings practical challenges for insurers and brokers. First, traditional product categories may not work well when risks overlap, like mental health being influenced by economic stress and digital overload. Second, prevention and resilience programs must become central to how risks are managed, using data and insights to reduce threats before they happen. Third, collaboration across sectors—including health systems, regulators, employers, and insurers—is essential to deal with shared pressures like aging populations and rising costs.
Overall, the survey shows that business leaders are starting to pay attention to the slower but far-reaching risks shaping the future. For the insurance industry, this is both a challenge and a chance to lead by focusing on resilience, not just recovery after problems occur.