Agencies Keep Evolving, But Their Operating Model Is Stuck

The End of Generic AI: Why Vertical AI & Institutional Intelligence Win

A recap from my keynote and session at the Ticket 500 event focused on the transition from horizontal AI models to vertical, workflow-specific intelligence.

The conversation explored why generic LLMs are utilities rather than competitive moats, and how agencies can capture institutional memory to drive real strategic outcomes.

Key themes:

Why the foundational AI model is an infrastructure commodity, not a competitive advantage
The critical shift from generic generative prompts to Vertical AI and domain workflows
Overcoming “institutional amnesia” by capturing unwritten knowledge, decisions, and history
Transforming agency pitching: using decision intelligence to qualify and reject bad-fit RFPs
Why specialized vertical players will outmaneuver horizontal Big Tech model providers

Mo Johmani
Founder & CEO, COR AI
Board Member, American Advertising Federation Orange County
20-year agency operator building AI infrastructure for agency growth.

Learn more: https://thecor.ai
Connect: Mo Johmani

Array