Using "eyes in the sky" and AI to remotely rate insurance risks

A startup is employing machine learning to process aerial imagery and remotely analyze insurance risks to properties around the country. Why it matters: The combination of AI and aerial imagery from satellites and even stratospheric balloons can help insurers quickly judge property risks without an in-person visit, saving money and time. How it works: Arturo's AI model can identify potentially risky characteristics of a property -- like roof tiles in need of repair or a pool that lacks a fence -- and estimate the likelihood of an insurable accident in the future. Background: Arturo's business model is a combination of two major technological trends: the ever-increasing growth of aerial imagery that can capture detailed pictures of the ground and the power of machine learning. The big picture: Insurance might seem like the blandest of businesses, but since its origins hundreds of years ago, the field has focused on using available data to try to predict the future -- which happens to be precisely what machine learning is good at.