The specialized field of Vertical AI is poised for substantial growth, with market projections indicating a surge to $115.4 billion by 2034 from $12.9 billion in 2024, demonstrating a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 24.5%. This significant expansion underscores a growing industry focus on artificial intelligence solutions tailored for specific sectors, a trend enthusiastically championed by prominent venture capitalist Trace Cohen. Cohen, an angel investor and founder of Six Point Ventures, recently highlighted this shift with a concise, impactful statement: > "Vertical Ai!"
Vertical AI differentiates itself from general-purpose, or "Horizontal AI," by integrating deep domain expertise with machine intelligence to solve industry-specific problems. As Cohen explained in a LinkedIn post, "Vertical AI is what happens when deep domain expertise meets machine intelligence. It’s built by people who’ve lived the problems, understand the workflows, and have access to proprietary data that no one else can get." This specialized approach allows for more precise and effective solutions, particularly in regulated or data-intensive environments.
North America currently leads the Vertical AI market, holding over a 37.1% share in 2024, with the U.S. market alone valued at $3.8 billion. The growth is fueled by increasing demand for operational efficiency, the proliferation of industry-specific big data, and advancements in AI algorithms. Key sectors adopting Vertical AI include Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI), which captured a 21.5% market share in 2023, along with healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.
The strategic shift towards Vertical AI is driven by its ability to automate high-cost, repetitive tasks and enhance decision-making processes. Cloud-based solutions, which accounted for 65.9% of the market in 2024, are making these advanced technologies more accessible. However, challenges remain, including the complexity of integration into existing systems and the need to balance customization with scalability.
Trace Cohen's firm, Six Point Ventures, actively invests in pre/seed stage companies focused on Vertical AI, underscoring the investor community's confidence in this specialized segment. His advocacy emphasizes that the next generation of enduring AI companies will emerge from these deeply integrated, industry-specific solutions, rather than broad, general-purpose applications.