GenAI Beyond the Basics: Advanced Concepts for Actuaries

Introduction & Programme

Generative AI (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT are rapidly reshaping how actuaries approach problem-solving, analysis, and communication. Beyond their familiar chat interfaces, these tools offer far more powerful capabilities through programmatic access, allowing users to interact directly with the underlying Large Language Models (LLMs) via APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Compared with manual, web-based use, API access lets actuaries embed GenAI seamlessly into their existing workflows, process larger volumes of data, and automate repetitive tasks at scale. In this three-hour web session, participants will follow live demonstrations of advanced GenAI concepts in a Jupyter notebook that introduces each concept and applies it to a concrete actuarial use case. The notebook will be shared with all attendees to encourage experimentation and support adoption in their own work.

After a foundations-and-best-practices block that covers how to access LLMs both through cloud APIs and locally via Ollama, together with practical prompt-engineering techniques, we will explore the following advanced GenAI concepts:

• Structured Outputs: Generating responses in structured formats like JSON to support easier and more reliable downstream processing.
• Function Calling: Enabling LLMs to execute predefined functions, such as calculations or database queries, to perform specific operations.
• Fine-Tuning: Customizing pretrained LLMs with domain-specific data to improve accuracy and relevance in generating responses.
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG): Combining LLMs with external data sources to produce contextually enriched outputs.
  

The session then closes with a dedicated introduction to Agentic AI, showing how a single LLM can be turned into an autonomous, tool-using agent and how several such agents can be orchestrated as a multi-agent system that collaborates to automate complex, multi-step actuarial workflows.
For each concept, the session will explain its purpose and underlying principles, demonstrate it through a dedicated actuarial use case, and point to further applications and resources. It will conclude with a forward-looking outlook on emerging developments, followed by an open Q&A and discussion.

Preliminary Programme
Monday, 7 December
09:00–09:10 Welcome & Introduction
09:10–09:45 Foundations & Best Practices
09:45–10:05 Structured Outputs
10:05–10:25 Function Calling
10:25–10:35 Break
10:35–10:55 Fine-Tuning
10:55–11:15 Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
11:15–11:55 Agentic AI
11:55–12:10 Outlook & Q&A

All the above times are given in CET (Central European Time).

Learning Objectives & Approach

The aim of this web session is to equip participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to apply advanced GenAI concepts in actuarial contexts. By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

• Understand how to interact with LLMs programmatically through APIs.
• Run open-weights LLMs locally via Ollama and weigh the trade-offs between local and cloud deployment.
• Apply Python programming skills to develop and integrate GenAI-powered solutions into actuarial workflows.
• Apply prompt-engineering best practices, such as few-shot prompting, chain-of-thought reasoning, and clear role and
  output-format instructions, to obtain reliable and reproducible results.
• Generate structured outputs in JSON format to ensure compatibility of the responses with actuarial processes and systems.
• Leverage Function Calling capabilities to trigger the execution of predefined functions in the underlying programming language, such as calculations or database queries.
• Customize LLMs using fine-tuning techniques to address domain-specific requirements.
• Combine external data with LLMs through Retrieval-Augmented Generation to produce contextually relevant outputs.
• Build agentic AI solutions, including multi-agent systems in which several specialized agents collaborate to automate complex, multi-step actuarial tasks.
  

By balancing conceptual understanding with hands-on programming, the session gives participants practical tools to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and creativity of their actuarial work.

Participants

This web session is designed for actuaries, data scientists, and other professionals in the insurance and financial industries who wish to deepen their technical understanding of GenAI tools. It offers practical insights for those new to programming and GenAI, while also helping experienced users refine their skills and explore advanced techniques.

Basic familiarity with Python (or another modern programming language) is helpful but not required. The session provides clear guidance and hands-on examples to keep the material accessible to everyone.

Technical Requirements
Please check with your IT department if your firewall and computer settings support web session participation (the programme Zoom will be used for this online training). Please also make sure to join the web session with a stable internet connection.

Lecturers

Dr Simon Hatzesberger
Simon Hatzesberger is a Senior Manager in Actuarial & Insurance Services at Deloitte, where he focuses on actuarial applications of AI. Prior to joining Deloitte, he worked in the actuarial department at Allianz Private Health, with responsibility for data- and AI-driven initiatives. He holds an MSc in Financial Mathematics and Actuarial Sciences from the Technical University of Munich, as well as an MSc in Computer Science and a PhD in Mathematical Stochastics from the University of Passau. Simon is a member of the German Association of Actuaries, a Certified Actuarial Data Scientist, and a Certified Enterprise Risk Actuary. He is actively involved in the Actuarial Data Science / AI committee of the German Association of Actuaries, serves as a workstream lead in the Artificial Intelligence Task Force of the International Association of Actuaries, and is a member of the AI & Data Science Working Group of the Actuarial Association of Europe.

Language & CPD Credits

The language of the web session will be English.

CPD Credits
For this web session, the following CPD credits are available under the CPD scheme of the relevant national actuarial association:

• Austria: 3 points
• Belgium: 3 points
• Bulgaria: 4.5 points
• Croatia: individual accreditation
• Czechia: 3 hours
• Denmark: 3 credits
• Estonia: 3 hours
• Finland: 3 points
• France: 18 points
• Germany: 3 hours
• Greece: 4 points
• Hungary: 3 hours
• Iceland: 3 credits
• Ireland: 3 hours
• Italy: GdLA individual accreditation
• Latvia: 3 hours
• Lithuania: 3 hours
• Netherlands: approx. 3 points (individual accreditation)
• Norway: 3 points
• Poland: 3 hours
• Portugal: 3 hours
• Serbia: 3 hours
• Slovakia: individual accreditation
• Slovenia: individual accreditation
• Spain: CAC: 3 hours, IAE: 3 hours
• Switzerland: individual accreditation
• USA: SOA (Section B): up to 3.6 hours

No responsibility is taken for the accuracy of this information.

Fees & Registration Details

Early Bird Registration Fee (until 26 October 2026):

• For private customers in the EU: €240.00 + VAT of the billing country (example Germany: €285.60 incl. 19% VAT)
• For private customers outside the EU: €285.60 (incl. 19% VAT)
• For businesses within the EU (excl. Germany, with valid VAT ID): €240.00 (net, reverse charge applies)
• For businesses in Germany: €285.60 (incl. 19% VAT)

Regular Registration Fee (from 27 October 2026):

• For private customers in the EU: €315.00 + VAT of the billing country (example Germany: €374.85 incl. 19% VAT)
• For private customers outside the EU: €374.85 (incl. 19% VAT)
• For businesses within the EU (excl. Germany, with valid VAT ID): €315.00 (net, reverse charge applies)
• For businesses in Germany: €374.85 (incl. 19% VAT)
  

Important VAT Information:

• For private customers with a billing address in an EU country: VAT will be charged at the applicable rate in the country of the billing address. The final amount, including VAT, will be calculated upon invoicing.
• For customers with a non-EU (third country) billing address: Only a non-company billing address is accepted for VAT compliance reasons. 19% VAT applies to all non-EU private customers.
• For businesses within the EU (excluding Germany), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK with a valid VAT ID: The reverse charge mechanism applies (net price; VAT will not be charged). Please ensure your valid VAT ID is entered correctly during registration.
• For all customers with a billing address in Germany: 19% VAT applies.

Please submit your registration using our online form below. Closer to the event, you will receive further login details to join the web session.

Your registration is binding. Cancellation is only possible up to 2 weeks before the first day of the event. If you cancel later, the full participation fee is due. You may appoint someone to take your place but must notify us in advance. EAA has the right to cancel the event if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

We will send you an invoice via email. Please allow a few days for handling. Please always give your invoice number when you effect payment. All bank charges are to be borne by the participant.

Registration is open until two working days before the web session. If registration has already been closed for this web session, please call us or send an email to contact@actuarial-academy.com in order to find out whether a late registration is still possible.