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Your Next Allstate Inspector Might Be a Drone

Posted by Soulskill on from the my-last-one-might-have-a-different-kind-of-drone dept.

New submitter cameronag writes: Following on the heels of EasyJet's plan to inspect planes with drones, insurance giant Allstate has received FAA clearance to test drones for insurance inspections. The company plans to use drones to inspect roofing, weather damage, and collapsed structures, among other things, and says the technology will ultimately speed up claims processing.

8 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. Can we stop conflating drone with AI by softwaredoug · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In the event of a catastrophe, physical access to a neighborhood might be restricted by local authorities or by debris. In this situation, a drone could potentially help claims professionals serve customers in spite of those restrictions.

    So we'll fly over your town to figure out insurance claims NOT we've programmed an AI to replace hordes of insurance adjusters

  2. Obligatory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What's the difference between a drone and an Allstate insurance agent?

    One's a machine-like contraption utterly devoid of humor and personality, and the other is capable of autonomous flight.

  3. Allstate unit by rossdee · · Score: 2

    Will it use the codename "Snake Doctor"

  4. following cars by bugs2squash · · Score: 2

    so will the drones just follow anyone who has allstate insurance around spotting reasons not to pay claims ?

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    Nullius in verba
  5. PFfft. by jd2112 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Allstate Drones? Booooring. I want to hear about the teleporter that State Farm uses to transport an agent to you when you sing their jingle!

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    Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
  6. Re:Speeds up claims by Tailhook · · Score: 2

    No. The sellout will continue until you live in a subsidized trailer. Anything else is injustice and racism.

    Insurance companies already use satellites to deal with claims. I know from recent experience that Travelers settles roof damage claims based on satellite imagery in an automated estimate system, and the results are so reliable that contractors take these jobs at face value. The 'adjuster' looks around for 15 minutes, pencil whips the claim and it's over.

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    Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
  7. The reality by les_91406 · · Score: 5, Informative

    This tech doesn't replace insurance inspectors, it replaces insurance inspectors on ladders. Keep in mind the flight time of a typical small UAS equipped for aerial photography/inspection is 10-20 minutes. The inspector brings it to the claim site, flies it over the object of interest (roof?) and combines the aerial photos with those he takes from the ground. And the inspector needs to be trained to fly and maintain the UAS properly. Not exactly a plot to put insurance inspectors out of work.

  8. Re: Awesome by tehcyder · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now they'll claim things are fine and they owe you no Monet

    Your insurance company uses Impressionist paintings instead of cash?

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    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it