Skip to main content
This is the map of what the Vertical can answer. You do not need to know signal names — pick the question you have, and the AI routes it to the right tool and signals.

Mandatory first-use bootstrap

On the first use of a Vertical in a session, bootstrap before any advisory task.
  1. Call vertical_legend — the live capability manifest (channels, benchmarks, lookups, the signal catalog, and the bootstrap article ids). For a fast, token-light bootstrap use brief: true (type + label + channel + grain only), then fetch a single full entry via signal_type when you need its how_to_read.
  2. Load the editorial method it points to: call vertical_knowhow(article_id) for the getting_started and agent_rules articles referenced in the legend.
Only then answer advisory questions. The legend tells you what exists right now; the know-how articles tell you how to reason over it. Skipping this step is the most common cause of ungrounded answers.

The intent library

A. Understand one entity

  • Give me an overview of Brand A.
  • Is Brand A growing?
  • What changed recently for Brand A?
  • What is Brand A’s current strategy?
  • Where is Brand A vulnerable?
  • What should Brand A do next?

B. Compare entities

  • How does Brand A compare to Brand B (and Brand C)?
  • Who is stronger on growth / paid media / engagement / launches?
  • Line up Brand A, Brand B, and Brand C side by side.

C. Discover across the market

  • Which brands are accelerating?
  • Which brands are showing warning signs?
  • Which brands recently changed direction?
  • Which brands use a particular launch style?

D. Analyze channels

  • How is Brand A doing on Instagram?
  • Which Instagram posts were exceptional in the last six months — and why?
  • What is Brand A doing in Stories?
  • Analyze Brand A’s Meta Ads.
  • What was Brand A’s biggest campaign last quarter, and how was it structured?
  • Here are my own campaigns — compare them against the market.
  • How much reach does Brand A have per country, and in which language does it advertise in each market?
  • Which cities or zip codes does Brand A target?
  • Did Brand A change its targeting, or is Meta delivering differently?
  • How is Brand A’s YouTube presence?
  • Give me a cross-channel read on Brand A.
  • Put Brand A’s channel activity in brand context.

E. Analyze markets

  • How dense is the market in Country X?
  • Who is expanding into Country X?
  • What is the industry pulse right now?
  • What trend clusters are forming?

E2. Retail & distribution

  • Who carries Brand A in retail — in which countries and cities?
  • Which retailers should Brand A approach to grow in Country X?
  • Which retailers carry my competitors but not me?
  • Does Brand A’s paid push in a city match its retail presence there?

F. Get recommendations

  • What does the evidence say, what’s the coverage, what’s the playbook, and what do you recommend?

Routing table — intent → primary tool

Decision tree

Next

AI Operating Rules

Ground every answer: the ten rules.

Business Question Recipes

Each intent above, expanded into a tool-and-signal flow.

Tool Reference

What each tool does and when to call it.

What a Vertical Is

The concept behind this section.
See also the full Vertical tool list and the wider Operating Contract.