In this episode of Microsoft Insurance Corner, Steve and Heather are joined by James Lees, Head of Insurance & Investments at Microsoft UK, to discuss what successful AI transformation really looks like. They explore the shift from AI hype towards real business value, the importance of culture and trust, and why adoption increasingly needs to be treated as an organisational challenge rather than simply a technology programme. James Lees also shares Microsoft's own experiences of experimenting, learning from approaches that have not worked and using champions, prompt sharing and gamification to encourage adoption. The conversation also looks beyond the workplace, including how James Lees's family uses AI for learning and everyday life, and why responsible use and appropriate controls remain so important.

In this episode of Microsoft’s Insurance Corner, Heather and Steve sit down with data expert Jonathan Ball to unravel the mysteries behind Microsoft’s 3 IQs. From connecting productivity tools and business data to building bespoke AI agents, learn how Work IQ, Fabric IQ, and Foundry IQ are reshaping the insurance landscape. The conversation dives into practical strategies for leveraging your organisation’s data as intellectual property, the critical role of semantic layers and ontologies, and the importance of clean, curated data for successful AI adoption. Whether you’re navigating the buy vs. build debate or seeking real-world examples of bleeding-edge innovation, this episode offers actionable insights for insurance leaders and practitioners ready to future-proof their business.

In this episode of Microsoft’s Insurance Corner, Steve Walker and Heather Haley sit down with Sean Cox, Account Technology Strategist, to unpack the journey of creating and deploying an agentic AI solution for the UK insurance sector. Sean shares practical insights on overcoming technical hurdles, navigating Microsoft’s internal processes, and scaling from a personal tool to a multi-agent platform. Learn how feedback, iterative development, and cross-industry collaboration drive innovation—and why starting with “why” is essential for meaningful transformation. Whether you’re an insurance leader, practitioner, or tech enthusiast, this episode offers actionable takeaways and inspiration for your own AI journey.