Sixfold's new AI Research Agent for Insurance Underwriting
Sixfold has released Research Agent, an artificial intelligence tool that automates research tasks in insurance underwriting workflows. The company says the system sources, synthesises and documents risk intelligence from web and third-party data sources.
The technology addresses manual research processes that create bottlenecks in underwriting decisions. Research Agent integrates with existing underwriter workflows to surface information that traditionally required hours of manual investigation.
Alex Schmelkin, founder and chief executive of Sixfold, says the system enables insurers to answer 30 per cent more questions during the underwriting process. "We anticipate that Research Agent will boost insurers' ability to answer 30% more critical questions, giving underwriters a more complete understanding of risk before quoting," Schmelkin says.
Automation Targets Speed and Consistency
The Research Agent addresses three operational areas in underwriting processes. Sixfold claims the system reduces quoting times from days to hours by automating research tasks. This acceleration allows insurers to reach markets ahead of competitors.
The technology creates audit documentation by sourcing and citing data consistently across underwriting teams. This standardisation eliminates variability in decision-making processes that can occur when different underwriters use different research methods.
Research Agent also augments underwriter capabilities by accessing web intelligence and third-party data sources. This expanded information access aims to provide underwriters with broader risk analysis capabilities.
Sixfold claims the system saves underwriters at least two hours per submission. This time reduction allows underwriting professionals to focus on risk judgement, broker relationships and portfolio optimisation rather than data gathering.
Market Response and Implementation
Initial users report that Research Agent surfaces relevant insights while maintaining integration with existing workflows. The feedback indicates that underwriters can access expanded intelligence without disrupting established processes.
Sixfold operates as an AI underwriting platform specifically designed for insurance applications. The company tailors recommendations to individual insurer risk appetites rather than providing generic solutions.
The Research Agent represents Sixfold's expansion into what the company terms "agentic capabilities" - AI systems that can perform complex tasks with minimal human intervention. This approach differs from traditional automation that typically handles routine, repetitive processes.
"With the Research Agent, we're aiming to AI-assist 100% of underwriting research — turning one of the industry's most manual processes into one of its most strategic advantages"
Industry Integration Focus
Sixfold's platform serves what the company describes as some of the world's largest insurers. Sixfold claims its existing systems reduce risk review time by at least half while increasing gross written premium per underwriter by 30 per cent.
The Research Agent builds on Sixfold's existing underwriting platform rather than operating as a standalone solution. This integration approach allows insurers to add research automation to current systems without replacing existing infrastructure.
The technology addresses research gaps that can occur in manual underwriting processes. Traditional methods rely on individual underwriter knowledge and research capabilities, which can create inconsistencies in information gathering and analysis.
Research Agent systematically identifies information gaps and sources relevant data to fill these spaces. The system creates documentation of its research process, supporting audit requirements and regulatory compliance while ensuring consistent data sourcing across teams.
Strategic Positioning
Sixfold positions the Research Agent as part of a broader strategy to apply AI throughout underwriting workflows. The company aims to provide AI assistance across all research functions rather than targeting specific tasks.
"We're building AI agents designed specifically for insurance underwriting workflows. With the Research Agent, we're aiming to AI-assist 100% of underwriting research — turning one of the industry's most manual processes into one of its most strategic advantages," Schmelkin says.