With advances in cloud storage and cloud computing, actuaries are in a position to leverage their current skills to new areas within and outside of traditional roles at insurance companies. However, there is also the potential to misuse data and advanced analytical techniques. Actuaries must be aware and proficient in their understanding of the appropriate analytic techniques, data, and applications. This paper first presents an introduction to the cloud service models and their impact on the actuarial profession. It then discusses the use of the cloud in terms of financial modeling and actuarial processes, and in terms of the increased ability to collect more data to perform advanced analytics.

Actuaries will be among those affected by new technology. But in the future, it will not be a question of machines or humans; rather, there will be a partnership between humans and technology. One day the world will be run by machines and there will be little meaningful work left for humans to do. It's a scenario that's been used by writers of fiction since the start of the 19th century, but reality has not played out that way. Fast forward to the year 2018 and many of us are arguably working more hours and longer weeks than has been the case during the last several decades.

Data science has been dubbed the coolest job of the 21st century -- beating out a tough field including game developer and professional sportsperson -- but is data science even a profession yet? Clearly, data scientist as a job is one of the new kids on the block, which is a cause of some of the coolness -- but may not be so great after five years or twenty years. How far has data science developed as a profession? When can we properly call ourselves a profession, and expect the kind of recognition ( way beyond coolness) that surgeons and lawyers expect? Within data science there is the beginnings of an understanding of which skills should be considered core, but not it stops a long way short of being shared to the extent found in other professions.

Man vs. Machine: 10 years ago, I would never have guessed that I would be writing about this topic with such serious concern. Yet, some people are predicting that machine learning technology will produce a jobless future for certain professions, including actuaries. And with news headlines like "Google's AlphaGo AI beats Lee Sedol again to win Go series 4-1" and "Meet Ross, the IBM Watson-Powered Lawyer"; you have to wonder what the future holds for the actuarial profession and just how much computers can take over the human role within actuarial departments. With the tremendous advancements in machine learning, many financial institutions are already making extensive use of these technologies to do all types of (traditional and new) actuarial work including competitor rating reconstruction and intelligent claims handling. Let's take a moment to see what people are thinking about when it comes to the impact of machine learning on the development of their actuarial teams: Yes, give it time, machine learning will take over!