QBE was proud to serve as Principal Partner of this year’s NSW Ambulance Summit, where QBE Ventures’ Alex Taylor shared how AI could help address the sector’s evolving challenges.

Frontline healthcare systems are under increasing pressure. Rising demand, stretched resources, and increasing case complexity are prompting the sector to explore new ways to support the delivery of care.

QBE has supported NSW Ambulance first responders with Accident and Health cover for almost a decade. As part of that ongoing relationship, we were proud to serve as Principal Partner of this year's NSW Ambulance Summit.

The event brought together healthcare leaders to explore how innovation can help meet the sector's evolving needs. Alex Taylor, Global Head of Emerging Technology at QBE Ventures, shared a forward look on how artificial intelligence (AI) could help address these challenges, reflecting QBE's broader commitment to supporting customers across the industries we serve not only through cover, but by offering deep expertise and insights that help them navigate risk, respond to change, and drive innovation.

AI is already beginning to show promise in frontline and emergency healthcare - supporting clinical decision making, improving responsiveness, and helping reduce risk. As these technologies are anticipated to move beyond pilot programs and into scalable, real-world use over the next five years, it's essential they are designed to support - not replace - human responsibility and decision making.

Mr Taylor explained that one area gaining attention is the application of Agentic AI to support real-time clinical decision-making.

"Emergency medicine clinicians often need to make complex, split-second decisions," Mr Taylor explained. "Agentic AI - technology that can reason, plan and propose an approach to take - has the potential to support those decisions, acting as a kind of 'over-the-shoulder' sense check."

He also explored how AI could support the wellbeing of first responders, highlighting emerging tools that can engage in mental health check-ins, triage an individual's needs, and guide them toward appropriate care pathways.

"We're starting to see AI agents that can hold a conversation, assess mental health indicators, and recommend tailored support options such as peer networks or professional care," Mr Taylor said. "This isn't about replacing human connection, it's about making sure help is accessible when and where it's needed most."

Mr Taylor also pointed to other emerging applications, including predictive tools to support resource allocation, remote patient monitoring, and humanoid robotics designed to assist with tasks that have a high risk of manual handling injuries. While many of these technologies are still evolving, they signal a future where innovation could support safer, more responsive healthcare systems.

But as the pace of innovation accelerates, Mr Taylor emphasised that progress must be matched with responsibility.

"Governance isn't just a side note, it needs to be the foundation of any AI strategy," Mr Taylor said. "Responsible AI means building systems that are explainable and accountable, with safeguards against biases.

"Ethics, safety and human oversight must always be front and centre - especially in healthcare, where privacy is paramount and the stakes are high."

QBE Ventures is the venture development and investment arm of QBE Insurance Group. QBE Ventures develops and invests in technology solutions that have the potential to transform QBE and the international markets in which the Group operates. Learn more at https://www.qbe.com/ventures