Geico, the nation's second-biggest auto insurer, will try to speed up vehicle repairs for its policyholders by running photographs of damaged vehicles through artificial-intelligence software. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. -owned Geico will offer the quick-estimate process in partnership with Tractable Ltd., said Alex Dalyac, chief executive and founder of the London-based technology firm. Tractable is among a number of specialists trying to help car insurers use artificial intelligence and other techniques to eliminate time-consuming hassles when customers file accident claims. Financial terms of the partnership weren't disclosed. Todd Combs, Geico's chief executive, said in a written statement that Tractable's technology is a way to obtain accurate estimates for policyholders and get drivers back on the road faster.

McNee is the president of Ultimate Collision Repair, an auto repair shop in Edison, New Jersey. From his perspective, appraisers and claims adjusters, paid by insurance companies, generally want to pay less for repairs than he thinks his shop deserves. Since Covid-19 swept the globe last year, McNee sees far fewer appraisers. Instead, insurers are deploying technology, including photo-based estimates and artificial intelligence. McNee kind of misses his old adversaries.