AI Won't Replace Actuaries: Melissa McDermott on How AI Will Change (Nearly) Everything
From Actuary Voices by American Academy of Actuaries
April 23, 2026 · 20 min
About this episode
Melissa McDermott discusses the impact of AI on the actuarial profession and how leaders can navigate this change.
Artificial intelligence is moving quickly, but the real question for actuaries is how to use it well and what it means for the profession. In this episode of Actuary Voices, Everest's Chief Actuary Melissa McDermott shares what she thinks about her role. We go beyond technical expertise and look into what it means to be a leader and how to navigate the changing AI landscape. Drawing on nearly three decades in the profession, she discusses where AI is already making a real difference in actuarial workflows, what is still overhyped, how leaders can guide teams through transformation, and what early-career actuaries should focus on now to stay valuable in the years ahead. Additional Resources: Read the Academy's paper on generative AI: https://www.actuary.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/professionalism-paper-generative-ai.pdf Read President, Trica Matson's Message on Actuarial & Algorithmic Accountability: https://actuary.org/article/actuarial-algorithmic-accountability-setting-ethical-standards-for-ai/
People in this episode
Guest: Melissa McDermott
Topics covered
- artificial intelligence
- actuarial profession
- leadership
- AI impact
- career development
- actuarial workflows
Keywords
- AI
- actuaries
- leadership
- career advice
- actuarial workflows
- transformation
- generative AI
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Everest, American Academy of Actuaries, Trica Matson
Books & works: generative AI, Actuarial & Algorithmic Accountability
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