The UK home insurance market has introduced its first insurance product for family robots. Adrian Flux and Tokio Marine HCC International are launching new insurance that comprehensively covers robot damage and theft, as well as damage to the home.
The UK insurance broker Adrian Flux announced that it had introduced the country’s first home insurance product for humanoid robots. The policy covers damage to or theft of the robot, sudden damage caused by the robot to the home or household contents, third-party liability caused by the robot, and emergency retrieval and safe shutdown in the event of a sudden malfunction.
The policy is positioned as the first to protect both a robot and a home, and is designed around the characteristics of robots that move around rather than remaining fixed like household appliances. TMHCCI will underwrite the insurance. Specific pricing and premium terms have not been disclosed.
Robot adoption is still in its early stages, and introductions are expected to be led by products from the US. UK availability is expected around 2027, and the product will be available to UK customers who obtain home insurance through Adrian Flux. Uncertainties such as robot safety and security risks and software updates have also been identified as issues.
Insurance industry representatives have pointed out that responsibility for robots could become complex, with the party responsible potentially varying from case to case among the owner, manufacturer and software provider.