Almost Nowhere

The CAS Institute
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Almost Nowhere explores the intersection of data science, AI, and actuarial thinking in the P&C insurance industry—and beyond. In a world where innovation feels slow and risk is constantly evolving, we ask the hard questions, spotlight real-world progress, and talk with the people driving change. Whether you're an actuary, a data scientist, or just curious about what’s next, this show dives into how emerging tech is reshaping insurance from the inside out.

  1. 4 days ago

    Dorothy Andrews and Nate Luketin on Climate Attribution Science

    When is a changing climate actually changing insurance risk—and how do actuaries know? Recorded live at the CAS Spring Meeting in New York City, Alicia Burke and guest co-host Malika Bender sit down with Dorothy Andrews (NAIC) and Nate Luketin to explore one of the most challenging questions facing the profession: how should actuaries incorporate climate attribution science into pricing, catastrophe modeling, and enterprise risk management? The guests explain how attribution science helps distinguish natural variability from measurable shifts in risk, why historical data may no longer be enough for some perils, and what actuaries should ask before relying on emerging climate research. They discuss: What climate attribution science actually measures—and what it doesn'tHow attribution studies can strengthen actuarial judgment and model governanceWhy transparency and uncertainty matter as much as predictive accuracyThe role of peer-reviewed research, confidence intervals, and model validationHow actuaries should evaluate vendor models and climate assumptionsWhy human judgment remains essential in an era of increasingly sophisticated AIThroughout the conversation, Dorothy and Nate emphasize that the goal isn't to replace actuarial expertise with new models, but to challenge assumptions, improve decision-making, and communicate uncertainty more effectively. For actuaries working in pricing, catastrophe modeling, reserving, or ERM, this episode offers a practical framework for evaluating one of the profession's fastest-evolving areas.

  2. 20 Jul ·  Bonus

    Preview: iCAS Vibe Coding Course

    What could you build if coding were no longer the barrier? Alicia Burke speaks with Sergey Filimonov, Head of Applied AI at Akur8, about how vibe coding can help actuaries turn their expertise into working applications, dashboards, and data tools. They discuss why this skill is becoming increasingly valuable, what actuaries can build, and how someone with little or no coding experience can get started. Continue learning at the hands-on iCAS webinar Vibe Coding for Actuaries on Thursday, August 6, from 12:00–1:30 p.m. ET. Register: https://lnkd.in/eReepURJ

  3. 16 Jul

    GIS Insights for Wildfire Underwriting and Pricing

    Guest: Kevin Brashem Today we’re talking about wildfire risk, getting into what geospatial data actually changes for underwriting, pricing, and model validation when you move past broad territory assumptions and start looking at how fire behaves on the ground.

  4. 29 Jun

    Tetteh Otuteye

    Devyn McNicoll joins Alicia Burke as our guest host for this episode filmed at the 2026 Spring Meeting.

  5. 1 Jun

    Piotr Lebiedz

    Recorded live at the 2026 RPM Seminar in Chicago, this episode of Almost Nowhere explores a question that sits at the center of modern actuarial practice: what does pricing sophistication actually mean? While many North American conversations focus on modeling techniques, filing requirements, and implementation challenges, some international markets have pushed much further into demand modeling, elasticity, customer lifetime value, experimentation, and real-time deployment. To understand what that looks like in practice, Alicia Burke and Jeffrey Durham sit down with pricing actuary Piotr Lebiedz, whose experience spans some of Europe's most competitive insurance markets. The discussion covers: Why competition and regulation shape pricing innovation differently around the worldWhat U.S. actuaries can learn from pricing practices in Poland and the UKThe real strengths and limitations of GBMs versus GLMsHow demand modeling and elasticity can improve business decisions without crossing regulatory linesWhy deployment speed may matter more than model complexityThe debate around customer lifetime value and whether insurers can truly predict itHow AI and agentic workflows could reshape pricing teams in the years aheadAlong the way, Piotr challenges the idea that sophistication is simply about building more complex models. Instead, he argues that the most advanced organizations focus on people, processes, governance, and speed—using the right tools for the right problems rather than chasing complexity for its own sake. For actuaries, pricing leaders, and insurance innovators, this conversation offers a rare look inside markets where pricing strategy has become a true competitive weapon.

  6. 21 May

    Betty Zhu: InsurTech After the Hype

    Recorded live at the 2026 RPM Seminar in Chicago, this episode of Almost Nowhere cuts through the noise surrounding InsurTech, GenAI, and the future of insurance software. Alicia Burke, Max Martinelli, and guest co-host Sergey sit down with Betty Zhu to unpack one of the biggest questions facing carriers today: when should insurers build technology themselves, and when should they buy it? Drawing from nearly a decade inside pricing technology and InsurTech vendors, Betty shares an insider’s perspective on the realities behind flashy demos, AI-driven product claims, vendor evaluations, proof-of-concepts, and the growing pressure created by rapid advances in generative AI. The conversation explores: Why GenAI is making “build vs. buy” harder than everHow carriers can distinguish real expertise from polished demosThe hidden risks of in-house AI development and key-person dependencyWhy distribution, domain expertise, and long-term viability matter more than hypeHow actuarial workflows may evolve as AI lowers the barrier to building softwareFor actuaries, innovation leaders, and insurance professionals trying to navigate the next wave of AI-enabled transformation, this episode offers a grounded discussion on what creates durable value — and what may disappear as quickly as it arrived.

  7. 14 May

    Beyond the Pacific: Inside Japan’s Insurance System

    Recorded live at the 2025 CAS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, this episode of Almost Nowhere explores how Japan’s insurance industry manages some of the most concentrated catastrophe risk in the world. Hosts Alicia Burke and Max Martinelli are joined by Suguru Fujita, Yohei Konishi, Takuro Oyama, and Kenta Ito for a conversation on earthquakes, typhoons, reinsurance structures, catastrophe modeling, public-private partnerships, and the cultural mindset behind resilience in Japan. The discussion dives into how Japanese insurers approach pricing, regulation, AI, claims response, and long-term catastrophe management — and what U.S. actuaries and insurers can learn from a system built around collaboration, preparedness, and recovery.

  8. 28 Apr

    Jim Weiss & Howard Kunst

    Climate risk is changing faster than actuarial practice. In this episode of Almost Nowhere, Jim Weiss challenges how actuaries think about responsibility when models, data, and assumptions start to break down. From overlooked casualty impacts to the limits of today’s frameworks, this conversation pushes beyond the usual climate narrative. Plus, what AI means for all of it — and why the real risk might not be what you think. Filmed at the 2026 CAS RPM Seminar in Chicago.

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About

Almost Nowhere explores the intersection of data science, AI, and actuarial thinking in the P&C insurance industry—and beyond. In a world where innovation feels slow and risk is constantly evolving, we ask the hard questions, spotlight real-world progress, and talk with the people driving change. Whether you're an actuary, a data scientist, or just curious about what’s next, this show dives into how emerging tech is reshaping insurance from the inside out.

Information

  • Creator
    The CAS Institute
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The CAS Institute
  • Show Website
    Almost Nowhere

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