Allstate Business Insurance has launched an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot to guide small business clients through the insurance process. The chatbot, called the Allstate Business Insurance Expert (ABIE), can be accessed through the business insurance section of Allstate's website. Developed in collaboration with Jorsek, with the use of the easyDITA platform, the bot provides answers in real time to questions about small business needs and insurance solutions. "We know small business owners are savvy business people who do their research when looking for solution providers," said Allstate Business Insurance president Mike Barton. "That's why we developed ABIE – to help answer their initial questions and make the conversation with their Allstate agent even more productive."

In 2017, we're already seeing a growing list of insurers leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to transform their customer- and distributor-facing channels, including the use of robo-advisors to support customers in their purchasing decisions. In some cases, insurers are choosing to partner with emerging players like Motif or Betterment, and in others, they are developing their own capabilities. Consider the Allstate Business Insurance Expert (ABIe)--known as Abby. This virtual assistant with an on-screen personality helps agents quote and issue commercial insurance products. It finds answers through a combination of contextual knowledge and intelligent content.

Artificial intelligence is hot, but also daunting. The latest advances -- known variously as cognitive computing, machine learning, and deep learning -- sound complicated and expensive. And they are, despite the enormous potential they bring to the marketplace. For many companies, the price tag and the commitment of resources are too high a hurdle. And for other reasons, even a giant like Apple is facing challenges.