Manulife Partners with Adaptive ML to Enhance Enterprise AI Solutions

In a significant development for the financial services industry, Manulife has announced its collaboration with Adaptive ML, selecting the latter's reinforcement learning engine to refine its enterprise AI platform. This strategic partnership, revealed on December 22, 2025, aims to accelerate innovations that will ultimately improve customer experiences and operational efficiency.

Adaptive ML, a New York City-based software company, specializes in providing fine-tuning technology for AI models used in businesses. The company’s expertise lies in implementing small language models (SLMs) through a reinforcement learning framework, allowing for the continuous adjustment and deployment of AI solutions tailored to specific business objectives.

According to Jodie Wallis, Global Head of AI at Manulife, the partnership will enhance the speed and precision of their existing AI solutions. The Adaptive ML technology allows for live tuning of AI models, learning from new data and feedback, which will lead to more accurate and effective outcomes over time. Wallis emphasized that this collaboration positions Manulife as a leader in leveraging AI to enhance customer experience and meet evolving market demands.

The deal includes a multi-year agreement that facilitates the exploration of practical applications for AI, such as automating underwriting processes, executing complex workflows, and advising sales professionals. By integrating these functionalities into their platform, Manulife plans to scale its AI offerings and expedite deployment, ensuring a competitive edge in the rapidly changing landscape of financial technology.

Julien Launay, CEO of Adaptive ML, commended Manulife’s proactive approach in embracing scalable enterprise AI deployment. He noted that the general-purpose large language models (LLMs) often fall short in the specific requirements of regulated industries, where specialized AI agents are necessary. By adopting its own specialized agents that utilize the Adaptive Engine, Manulife will benefit from more precise operations and cost efficiencies across its global infrastructure.

This collaboration aligns with Manulife's commitment to responsible AI and sustainability. By employing a fine-tuning model engine with SLMs, Manulife aims to lower energy consumption over time while maintaining high-performance standards. It showcases the firm's dedication to ensuring that its AI implementations are not only effective but also environmentally conscious.

Shamus Weiland, Chief Information Officer at Manulife, stated, "Integrating AI is a priority across almost all facets of our operations. We are excited about leveraging Adaptive ML’s capabilities to enhance our speed and reduce friction for our clients. Our focus remains on giving our teams innovative, reliable, and responsible tools that foster solutions generating value."

Recognition of Manulife's AI maturity was affirmed when the company ranked first in the inaugural Evident AI Index for life insurers, acknowledging its innovation and customer-centric solutions. Manulife has been investing in AI capabilities since 2016, striving to lead the sector in technological advancement.

For more insights into Manulife’s AI initiatives, visit AI @ Manulife.

About Manulife

Manulife is an international leader in financial services that helps clients make decisions with ease and improve their lives. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, they operate under the Manulife name in Canada, Asia, and Europe, and as John Hancock in the United States. With over 37,000 employees and 109,000 agents worldwide, Manulife serves more than 36 million customers and focuses on growth through innovative technology.

About Adaptive ML

Founded in New York, Adaptive ML specializes in reinforcement learning technologies and offers Adaptive Engine, a comprehensive platform for fine-tuning and evaluating enterprise-specific language models. The company is dedicated to helping large organizations deploy intelligent agents that transform AI from theoretical models into practical, scalable solutions that deliver measurable business value.