Steak & chips: how IoT and machine learning will disrupt risk in animal insurance

On the face of it, the connection between the internet of things (IoT) and animals is not an obvious one. However, a number of trials and larger-scale implementations of IoT use with household pets and on farms are showing that connecting Fido and Daisy to sensors could provide real benefits. This should not be surprising: animals are big business, both in terms of personal ownership and commercial farming. Mintel, a market research company, expects UK pet insurance premiums to grow from £976m in 2015 to £1.6bn by 2021. Anything that makes it easier and more efficient to care for and farm animals is therefore likely to be of interest.