Jan 7, 2025

Vertical And Agentic AI: The Dual Forces Redefining Business And Work The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the business landscape through two transformative trends: Vertical AI and Enterprise Agentic AI. Although both serve distinct purposes, together, they signal a future where businesses operate more efficiently and employee roles and customer experiences are redefined. Transforming Traditional Industries with Vertical AI Vertical AI is redefining traditional industries by enabling exceptional specialization and optimization through custom AI solutions tailored to sectors like insurance, manufacturing, and healthcare. Historically, these industries have seen limited technology adoption, creating significant opportunities for modernization and massive productivity gains through the adoption of AI technologies. For example, startups like Affineon enhance patient care and boost doctor productivity in healthcare by managing inbox, while Interactly streamlines administrative patient interactions and automates call scheduling for medical practices. In the insurance sector, Zelros delivers personalized, real-time recommendations for insurers to improve client acquisition, and Covu transforms insurance agency operations with AI-native services. Meanwhile, Outbuild optimizes scheduling in the construction industry. These innovations not only streamline processes and reduce operational costs but also elevate customer experiences, providing industry players with a significant competitive edge. Examples of Vertical AI from our portfolio: Healthcare Revolutionizing Business Functions with Agentic AI Enterprise Agentic AI is transforming critical business functions such as marketing, DevOps, sales, and customer service. Tools like Salesforce Einstein and emerging startups showcase this trend by enabling companies to optimize their internal workflows. For example, Lyzr ’s AI-powered SDR agents enhance sales team productivity by automating routine tasks. By integrating AI into these horizontal functions, organizations can achieve faster decision-making, hyper-personalization, and operational excellence. Another example is MultiOn , which enables consumer use cases by a web agent capable of completing tasks online from start to finish. Agentic AI has gained significant attention—and for good reason. For the first time, systems are unlocking reasoning capabilities and acting autonomously, all under human oversight, marking a pivotal shift in how technology supports business operations and adds value. The Convergence: Redefining Work Responsibly Vertical AI and Agentic AI complement each other perfectly, transforming enterprise operations into human-centric automation by combining industry-specific data with intelligent workflow automation. A common theme in Vertical and Enterprise Agentic AI is the changing role of employees. As AI takes on more routine and transactional tasks, employees increasingly become orchestrators of workflows, managing complex systems instead of performing individual tasks. For instance, a marketing manager may oversee AI tools to dynamically deploy campaigns across channels. Meanwhile, a supply chain professional could coordinate predictive analytics tools to foresee disruptions and optimize logistics. This transition necessitates upskilling and adopting a mindset of utilizing AI as a collaborative partner. However, these advancements come with significant responsibilities. Trustworthy AI systems are crucial for promoting ethical, unbiased, and sustainable adoption. Companies must prioritize responsible AI practices, which include strong data governance, transparency, and ethical considerations in AI implementation. This is particularly vital for Vertical AI, where errors could result in life-or-death situations, and for Enterprise Agentic AI, where customer trust depends on data privacy and accuracy. In conclusion, the interplay of Vertical AI and Enterprise Agentic AI is reshaping industries and businesses and redefining the human role within organizations. By embracing responsible AI, enterprises can unlock the full potential of automation while fostering trust, innovation, and collaboration in an increasingly AI-driven world. If you’re working in this space or simply have thoughts to share, feel free to reach out to [email protected] and [email protected] .