Life, critical illness and Synergy covered first, with the AI tool drawing on Manulife handbooks
Advisors selling Manulife life and critical illness policies can now put underwriting questions to an AI assistant at any hour and get answers pulled from the insurer’s underwriting advisor handbooks.
The Manulife Advisor AI Assistant is live through Advisor Portal, the company said in announcing the launch, and takes questions in plain language.
The first release covers life insurance, critical illness insurance, and Synergy products.
Manulife’s statement positions it before the application stage, where it helps advisors prepare for client conversations, understand potential underwriting requirements, and gather information earlier in the insurance process.
MAUDE, the company’s AI-enabled underwriting engine, handles the stage after an application is submitted.
Karen Cutler, chief underwriter at Manulife Canada, said in the announcement that advisors who reach the information they need faster can help clients act sooner.
She said the Manulife Advisor AI Assistant provides underwriting guidance and sets up future tools for advisors.
The assistant does not make underwriting decisions and does not provide a binding indication of insurability, premium, coverage, or application outcome.
All applications remain subject to the insurer’s applicable underwriting requirements and evaluation.
Manulife stated that advisors are expected to exercise professional judgment when using the tool, as AI-generated responses may contain errors.
It operates within the company’s AI governance framework, covering risk management, human oversight, privacy safeguards, and ongoing monitoring.
Jamie Campbell, head of artificial intelligence and data for Canada at Manulife, said in the announcement that the Manulife Advisor AI Assistant makes underwriting information “easier to find.” He said advisors can spend more time on their clients.
Manulife expects to generate more than $1bn of enterprise value by 2027 from becoming an AI-powered organisation, with $300m achieved as of year-end 2025.
Evident named Manulife the number one life insurer for AI maturity for a second consecutive year earlier this year, per the same statement, which also cites Celent Model Insurer recognition for AI leadership in underwriting.
Manulife plans to extend the assistant into additional knowledge areas.
