How public sector pools and state risk managers can unlock smarter, faster decisions
AI is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a practical tool that risk pool leaders and state risk managers can start using today to reduce manual effort, uncover hidden insights, and make smarter decisions. But like any powerful tool, using AI effectively requires intention, structure, and the right use cases.
Here are five best practices to guide your AI journey, along with real-world applications relevant to the work of public sector pools and state risk programs.
1. Prioritize Data Readiness
AI is only as good as the data it learns from.
Before introducing AI into any workflow, ensure your core data (e.g., exposure data, valuation data, claims history, etc.) is accurate, current, and organized. Risk pools often encounter fragmented or outdated information scattered across member entities. AI can be beneficial, but only when the input data is reliable.
RiskStar risk management software centralizes exposure data across properties and coverages, creating a single source of truth that facilitates the application of AI models without the need for weeks of spreadsheet cleaning.
2. Implement an AI Use Policy
Establish clear guidelines to govern the use of AI within your organization. As AI becomes more integrated into operations, it’s crucial to define acceptable use, ethical considerations, and compliance requirements. This ensures that AI tools are applied responsibly and in alignment with your mission and legal standards.
The Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP) emphasizes the importance of adopting an AI use policy to protect pool assets and provide clear guidance on allowable use. They recommend starting with an initial policy and updating it as AI initiatives evolve, and provide this policy as an example.
3. Invest in AI Education and Change Management
Equip your team with the knowledge and experience needed to confidently use AI. Even the most sophisticated tools require skilled users to realize their full potential. Offer hands-on workshops, create AI champions within your organization, and encourage experimentation in a safe environment where staff can explore new approaches and build practical skills.
Centurisk is hosting an AI Innovation Accelerator, dedicating time for employees to explore AI tools in real-world scenarios. Participants will leave with practical skills, documented workflows, and a clearer understanding of how AI can support their work.
4. Start Small and Purposeful
Focus on targeted, manageable use cases before scaling AI across your organization. Choose clear problems where AI can deliver immediate value, like automating repetitive tasks or summarizing documents, and build confidence from there.
Centurisk initiated a brainstorming phase to gather ideas for high-impact applications of AI across the organization. Employees were encouraged to think broadly about opportunities to automate repetitive tasks, streamline data-intensive workflows, minimize errors, and facilitate faster decision-making. Building on this input, Centurisk is moving into an AI Innovation Accelerator, where selected ideas will be prototyped and tested in real workflows.
5. Embrace AI as a Partner, Not a Replacement
Use AI to augment human decision-making rather than replace it. While AI can process and analyze data quickly, the nuanced understanding and judgment of experienced risk managers remain indispensable.
Centurisk views AI as a collaborative partner to combine computational speed with human expertise, making more confident, informed, and smarter risk decisions. Also, the launch of navigAIte showcases the Centurisk commitment to what’s next.
Final Thought
AI adoption doesn’t have to be intimidating or expensive. Start small. Look for areas where your team spends too much time manually chasing data or making reactive decisions. Then apply AI where it can deliver immediate value—whether it’s a smarter survey, a faster report, or an extra set of “eyes” on risk.
By adopting a practical, best-practice approach, risk pools and public sector leaders can utilize AI to achieve better outcomes for their members, staff, and the communities they serve.
Note about this article:
Human-Led, AI-Assisted
This article was written by our team with modest assistance from AI tools.