Vertical AI:Changing
the Game

Vertical AI is built around how an industry actually works. In golf, that means understanding the golfer, the course, the rules and the staff who bring it together. Connect that intelligence to trusted information, business systems and clear permissions, and a request can move towards a confirmed outcome. People set the direction, exercise judgement and supervise. AI helps carry out the work. The workflow becomes the product.

Watch what happens when the phone rings while a golfer is waiting at the counter. A simple request can send someone through several systems, a set of rules and a conversation with a colleague before they can confirm anything. That is the Pro Shop Moment: seeing where staff rescue the process. Follow one request from start to finish. Notice the handoffs, the repeated information and the knowledge that lives in someone’s head.

A golfer wants a game for four on Friday. They are thinking about the outcome, not which menu to open. Start there. Let the customer express what they want, clarify what is missing, then check the rules, availability and permission to act. Some requests will need a person to take over. Working backwards from a confirmed outcome helps you see which systems, decisions and human checks the workflow actually needs.

You know the exceptions, the awkward handoffs and the questions customers ask when the standard process breaks down. That experience is valuable. A general AI model does not automatically know your organisation’s rules, current information or who can approve a change. Insiders can help identify what matters and make those requirements explicit. The opportunity is to combine experience with reliable execution, while testing the result carefully. Industry knowledge is an advantage, not a guarantee that outsiders cannot compete.

Start by auditing one customer journey. Trace the friction, then choose one workflow worth investigating. Write down the information, decisions and permissions it needs, and where human judgement belongs. You might aim for fewer repeated questions, faster booking changes or clearer confirmations. Record how the work happens today, then compare it with a supervised trial. The book gives you a practical starting point and exercises to work through; the results still have to be measured in your business.

The book is for founders, CEOs, business owners and leaders who want to apply AI to work they understand. Its 12 chapters and field exercises help you investigate customer requests, design workflows and decide where people need to stay in control.

The paperback is available to order from Dean Publishing’s Author to You store. You can read a Chapter 1 excerpt online or request the complete first chapter by email.

Horizontal AI tools support broad tasks across industries, such as drafting or summarising. Vertical AI focuses on the knowledge, rules and workflows of a particular industry. A general model can power a vertical workflow when it is connected to the right information, systems and permissions. Explore the comparison and a golf example.

A CLIVE.AI consultant reviews three common customer requests remotely. You receive a written report, one recommended starting project and a walkthrough. The audit helps you choose what to do next; implementation and ongoing support are separate decisions. See the scope and introductory prices.