The Predict & Prevent™ Podcast Episode 2: How Sensors and Visual Technology Can Help Insurers Effect Badly Needed Change

Sensors and data-driven intelligence are a foundational part of the Predict & Prevent model. Pete Miller digs in on how each can prevent loss.
By: | June 1, 2023

Sensors and data-driven intelligence platforms are foundational technologies that can identify hidden dangers and help prevent losses, according to the guests of “Hidden Dangers Uncovered,” The Institutes second installment of its podcast Predict & Prevent™.

Host Pete Miller, CPCU, CEO and president, The Institutes, sits down with Bob Marshall, CEO and co-founder of Whisker Labs, and Dave Tobias, COO and Co-Founder of Betterview, to discuss their companies’ approaches to implementing and utilizing sensors and data to drive effective change for their customers.

In the episode’s first segment, Miller and Marshall uncover the story behind Ting, an innovative plug-in sensor deployed in hundreds of thousands of U.S. homes to detect electrical issues that could cause fires. As co-inventor of this device, Marshall shares the sensor’s story from invention to adoption, detailing its AI-driven capabilities, and how it’s been shown to prevent 75-80% of electrical fires.

“Predict and prevent is possible here,” Marshall said.

“Electrical fire hazards typically develop over weeks [or] months. It can even be years … and we detect it very early. We detect the arcing the problem connection, and then, you know, we’re able to develop a pattern. Our data science allows us to know that it’s an outlet versus the panel versus a heating pad versus a laptop power supply.

In the second segment of the episode, Miller and Tobias discuss Betterview’s data-driven approach to predicting and preventing risk. Betterview, a property intelligence platform used by underwriters for scoring various property risks, acts as a prime example of how technology companies and insurance can work together for the betterment of all parties involved.

“I think our product is helping insurance carriers underwrite risk better. And that can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people,” Tobias said.

“You know, pricing and effectively servicing their customers, customer experience element of it and predicting and preventing loss, which is a core belief of our company that we can actually effect change with that predict and prevent versus just repair and replace.”

To listen to this and other episodes, visit predictandprevent.org, or look for Predict & Prevent on most podcasting platforms. New episodes come out every two weeks. &


Predict & Prevent: Episode 2

Sensors and data-driven intelligence platforms are foundational technologies that can identify hidden dangers and help prevent losses. In this episode, Pete Miller talks with Bob Marshall, CEO and Co-Founder of Whisker Labs, and with Dave Tobias, COO and Co-Founder of Betterview, about these two different approaches. Listen now.

The R&I Editorial Team can be reached at [email protected].

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