3 Emerging Risks to Watch: 6G Wireless Technology, Autonomous Trucks, Kratom

It seemed not so long ago that many wireless carriers were in a race to 5G, touting the speed of their networks to consumers. Now, the successor to that network is in development and could bring a bounty of potential benefits to society and insurers.

Yet, as with some innovations, they often raise as many questions as they do answers. That is the case with a pair of potentially game-changing emerging risks: 6G wireless infrastructure and autonomous trucks. Meanwhile, a third risk with ancient origins presents new liability issues that insurers and the industry should also keep in mind.

Insurance in a 6G Era

A constellation of companies, researchers, and government agencies are hard at work on the successor to today’s 5G wireless network. While that next-generation network is still several years away, it’s not too early to begin considering the possible impacts this new technology may have across insurance lines of business.

Much like all the Gs before it, 6G technology represents a more expansive standard of technological implementation and infrastructure development. One fairly obvious characteristic we might see as networks migrate from 5G to 6G is speed: 6G is expected to support significantly faster data rates than 5G—reportedly up to as high as 200 Gbit/s for 6G vs. 20 Gbit/s for 5G. A future 6G network could also serve up to three-to-five times as much data traffic throughput within a given geographic area versus 5G. Lower latency, greater reliability, and the ability to serve data to more devices on a network are also promised.

Researchers preparing the groundwork for 6G also expect it to open the door to new capabilities, which may prove valuable for insurers. These innovations include integrated sensors that may allow 6G network devices to use radio waves to obtain additional information about their surroundings based on how objects—vehicles, buildings, and people—interact with the waves they send and receive. Sensors may also access networks in more remote locations, providing the potential to make post-catastrophe damage assessment easier and more efficient, and the full extent of such events more immediately apparent.

The use of so-called digital twins—more accurate virtual representations of real property—could aid in underwriting by helping insurers better understand a building’s performance under various catastrophe scenarios. It may also assist in the claims process with real-time data flowing between the real-world object and its virtual twin to potentially assist adjusters in better understanding pre-loss conditions when a claim is filed.

If 6G sensors proliferate, so, too, might the concept of a digital twin—potentially growing the tool beyond single structures and allowing insurers greater analytical visibility on entire neighborhoods and cities, in addition to critical infrastructure and the movements of people and vehicles.

The advent of the 6G era may also support auto insurance, enabling vehicle data analysis from radar-like passive sensing tools that hypothetically hold the potential to more accurately reconstruct accident scenes.

A variety of possible risks may accompany these promising opportunities, however. Though research on the potential health impacts of cellular radiation continues, 6G wireless infrastructure may include unique components, like Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), that are placed in locations where traditional wireless infrastructure isn’t normally located–potentially exposing a greater number of individuals to possible cellular radiation.

Other questions–such as the fate of the existing 5G infrastructure–remain and might not be resolved until the first projected commercial 6G networks become operational in 2029 or 2030.

Will Autonomous Robotrucks Redefine Commercial Auto?

A future in which self-driving semitrailers traverse America’s busy roadways delivering essential consumer goods and raw materials may sound far-fetched, but it isn’t quite as far removed as you’d think. And that future may redefine commercial auto coverage.

Autonomous trucks could account for up to 13% of commercial trucks on U.S. roads by 2035, according to one report by McKinsey, and the industry may grow into a projected $600 billion market in that same time frame.

These vehicles–some of them diesel-powered, others electric–rely on a variety of sensors and cameras to navigate roads and detect obstacles. Advanced algorithms process this data in real-time, enabling the truck to make driving decisions without human intervention. A handful of companies are already testing these self-driving semis in select U.S. markets, and some analysts believe they could help shipping companies address various challenges, from the ongoing driver shortage to transport costs.

Though promising, the necessary infrastructure and autonomy likely required for the self-driving trucking industry to grow and thrive may be years away. The rollout for full autonomy may occur gradually between 2027 and 2040.

Concerns over the safety and dependability of self-driving trucks could, according to some reports, lead to a profound reappraisal of commercial auto coverage for property and casualty insurers. For instance, as autonomy gradually increases–potentially shifting vehicle driving responsibility from an in-person driver to fleet managers or manufacturers–auto insurance products could pivot away from third-party liability and eventually resemble something closer to product liability. Thus, increased automation could raise questions about accident culpability, potentially expanding risk exposure to manufacturers and tech providers.

Ancient Remedy, Modern Liability

In America’s diverse diet of recreational drugs, one product appears to be achieving growing popularity, notoriety, and liability: the herbal supplement kratom.

Derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, kratom leaves have been consumed for generations across Southeast Asia, either brewed as teas or by chewing the leaves. In low doses, it’s said to deliver a stimulant-like effect. At higher doses, it’s said to behave more like an opioid–indeed, its main chemical compounds reportedly trigger some of the same chemical sensors in the brain that are also tripped by opioids. Kratom is not listed as a controlled substance federally, but is noted as a “drug of concern” by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). While manufacturers may market kratom products as a treatment for ailments like opioid use disorder, pain, depression, or anxiety, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned consumers that the substance is not approved for use as a medical treatment.

The drug moves through reportedly opaque supply chains in the U.S.–commonly found on shelves in convenience stores, gas stations, and vape shops–making its way to the West in reportedly more concentrated forms, such as powders, extracts infused into drinks, or gummies. The market for these products has been valued at up to $1.5 billion.

Kratom has been linked to thousands of deaths across the country since 2020 and is increasingly leading to litigation. For example, a 2023 wrongful death lawsuit resulted in a nuclear verdict of more than $10 million.

Six states have implemented bans on kratom’s intoxicating compounds, and more than a dozen others have laws regulating some aspect of its sale, possession, or distribution. This can leave kratom in a regulatory gray area across more than half the country.

While kratom is a growing concern of the present, 6G wireless and autonomous trucking represent risks of the not-so-distant future. As these technologies and trends continue to evolve, it is crucial for the insurance industry to stay informed and adapt to the changing landscape to manage these risks effectively.

Topics Trends Tech