What with the digitisation of all uses, ever more complex everyday lives, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is applied throughout the value chain of an insurance provider, from subscription to claim and service management, from product design to combating fraud. AI plays a particularly significant part in improving the customer path by making processes smoother and reducing paper consumption, thereby shortening handling times or providing more opportunities to contact customers. Yet, to help further develop AI and create value for all, it must be accepted by all of the stakeholders: insured people, insurance providers, distributors, and employees. A responsible use of AI tools is therefore called for in order to create trust.

CNP Assurances wishes to adopt an exemplary approach in AI ethics. The Group has thus decided to define guidelines and to set up an AI governance board, which will make sure that human values and ethics are placed at the centre of the development of any Artificial Intelligence project. Further to the appointment of Xavier Vamparys as “AI Ethics” manager, reporting to Jean-Baptiste Nessi, Group Technical Director, CNP Assurances has decided to set up an AI and ethics pluri-disciplinary committee. Placed under the supervision of the corporate secretariat and the Finance Division, the committee is composed of representatives of the Compliance, Risk Management, Legal, CSR (Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility) Division and of the Customer Experience and Information Systems Division. It may welcome new members from the academic realm or the world of research, or human science experts.

Ethical principles in line with our DNA

In line with its values and mission to protect people and what is important to them over the long term, CNP Assurances has defined 5 rules of conduct for the development of AI:

• Ensure the transparency of AI tools;
• Keep a watchful eye on the fairness of AI tools by fighting prejudice and discrimination;
• Use AI in a responsible manner by controlling its reliability and impacts;
• Protect data and respect private life;
• Make human values key in our AI tools and processes.

“As a responsible insurance provider and a public player, CNP Assurances ought to set an ethical example and make sure human values are placed at the centre of the development of artificial intelligence. We have decided to set up dedicated governance bodies to ensure our principles are complied with and to train and acculturate our employees, inform our customers and partners, in full transparency, of the implementation of ethical AI projects. The purpose is to demonstrate the reliability of AI, which will thus be value creating for our customers, partners and for the company,” says Antoine Lissowski, Chief Executive Officer of CNP Assurances.