Rajiv Matta, Chief Innovation Officer at MSI, shared insights on how artificial intelligence is reshaping the insurance world in ways we’ve never seen before. Speaking on March 19, 2026, Matta explained that while AI isn’t new, the speed and depth of change it brings to Managing General Agents (MGAs) is unlike anything from past tech advances. Some MGAs fully embrace AI, weaving it into every part of their work, while others are still experimenting. This divide is growing wider and will only become more obvious.
Matta emphasized that MSI decided early on to go beyond just trying out AI. Instead, they made it central to everything they do—from designing products to pricing risk and managing portfolios. For MSI, AI isn’t about simply speeding up tasks. It’s about changing what’s possible when smart technology and skilled people work as one team.
The insurance industry has seen many new tools over time, but Matta pointed out this moment is different. Today’s AI, especially with its ability to create and act on information in real time, changes how fast MGAs can launch products, how precise their pricing is, and how well they serve partners and clients.
Being “AI-first,” according to Matta, means more than having a few tools or projects. It’s a complete shift in mindset. It means asking, “How can AI help underwriters choose risks smarter? How can product teams work sharper? How can service be quicker and more reliable?” When these questions guide every step, that’s when real change begins.
Matta also warned against thinking of AI as just separate fixes for individual tasks. The magic happens when AI is built into the whole process. Decisions that used to happen one after another now happen side-by-side. Insights appear instantly rather than after weeks. Trends that once took months for analysts to spot now show up right away, allowing teams to act early.
He gave an example: a new insurance program that once took four to five months to develop can now be ready in weeks. And each product or decision made using AI adds to a growing system that learns and improves itself. This creates a gap between companies like MSI, which build this evolving system, and those who have just sped up old ways of working.
The difference isn’t just about being faster today. It’s about building knowledge, tools, and relationships that keep improving over time. As a result, the lead that AI-first MGAs have over others will grow bigger with each quarter.
Matta urges capacity providers and agents to look beyond current partnerships. Instead, they should ask who’s developing the AI infrastructure that will deliver the best results in the future.
Finally, Matta reminded everyone that being AI-first is not a final goal but a way of running the business every day. Those who fully embrace this approach, not as a side project but as the foundation of their work, will shape the insurance market in the years ahead.