The Billion Dollar AI Play: 2026’s Biggest Opportunities

Why the next five years will be defined by those who see beyond audits, and how to pick your lane

December 27, 2025
Read Time: 8 minutes

Let’s get real: most people in the AI space are still thinking small. They’re stuck on the surface-level stuff; selling audits, doing a few implementations, maybe running some workshops. But the real money, the real leverage, and the real impact are in the plays almost nobody is talking about.

I’ve been obsessed with this for months. I’ve spoken about audits for half a year now, and for good reason: they’re the best path in for non-technical people. But as we head into 2026, I want to show you the full chessboard. Here’s what I see as the biggest AI opportunities right now, and how to figure out which one is right for you.

1. Audits: The Best Path In (Especially for Non-technical Founders)

If you’re new to AI, running audits is still the best way to get started. You don’t need to be a technical wizard. You just need to know how to ask the right questions, map workflows, and spot inefficiencies. The market is wide open, and most businesses are desperate for someone to show them where AI can actually help.

But audits are just the beginning.

2. Education & Corporate Training: The Hidden Goldmine

If you’ve gone deep on AI yourself, maybe you’re the “AI person” in your friend group, or you’ve spent the last year learning everything you can, there’s a massive opportunity in education and training. Not courses, but real corporate training.

Companies are desperate to upskill their teams. They don’t want another generic online course. They want someone who can come in, speak their language, and show them how to actually use AI in their business. If you can package your knowledge into a corporate training offer, you can charge premium rates and build long-term relationships.

3. Implementations: The Classic Play (and How to Make It Scalable)

Most people in the AI space are doing implementations, building automations, integrating tools, and solving real business problems. But here’s where it gets interesting: if you stick with a niche, you’ll quickly realize that most companies in that space need the same 10–20 automations.

If you do 10 audits for accounting firms, you’ll see the same patterns over and over. That’s your cue to start building your own “Vibe Coded” platform, a library of automations and solutions tailored for that niche. Now you’re not just selling your time. You’re building enterprise value. You’re creating a SaaS-like margin business, not just a consulting shop.

4. The Equity & Profit Share Play

This is the one almost nobody is talking about. Once you’ve proven you can drive real results, you can start negotiating for equity or profit share in the companies you help.

Imagine doing an audit and implementation for a business, then structuring a deal where you get 10–50% of all increased profit you generate. You’re not just a consultant anymore. You’re a partner. This is how you build real wealth, not just income.

5. Buying Businesses and Integrating AI

This is my personal play for 2026. Once you’ve built up expertise in a niche, let’s say engineering or manufacturing, you can use your knowledge to buy companies outright. You know exactly where to implement AI to add 50%+ to the bottom line, because you’ve done it for dozens of clients already.

Now you’re not just consulting. You’re owning the asset. You’re capturing all the upside from the improvements you make. This is how you go from six figures to eight.

6. The Full Stack AI Startup

This is the most ambitious play, and it’s what some of the smartest investors in the world (including Y Combinator) are betting on. Instead of trying to “fix” a traditional business, you start a new one from scratch, AI-first, with autonomous agents and automation built in from day one. They are calling this a ‘Full-Stack AI Startup’.

Think: an accounting firm, law firm, or agency where every process is designed for AI leverage. You’re not fighting legacy systems or old habits. You’re building for the future, and your margins are exponentially higher.

Which Play Is Right for You?

Here’s the truth: all of these are massive opportunities, and they’ll be around for the next five years at least. The key is to pick the one that fits your skills, your network, and your ambition.

• If you’re nontechnical and want to get started fast, audits are your best bet.

• If you love teaching and have gone deep on AI, corporate training is a goldmine.

• If you want to build a scalable business, focus on implementations in a niche and start building your own platform.

• If you want to build wealth, look for equity and profit share deals.

• If you want to play at the highest level, buy businesses or start a full stack AI company.

Most people are still thinking small. They’re not seeing the chessboard. But the ones who do? They’re going to own the next decade.

Final Thought: The Window Is Wide Open

I know multiple people doing the “lower” plays, audits, implementations, training, and making great money. But almost nobody is talking about the platform play, the business buying play, or the full stack AI startup. That’s where the real leverage is.

If you want to talk through which play is right for you, or how to get started, book a call with me. 2026 is going to be the year of the AI Consultant. The only question is: are you going to watch, or are you going to play?

See you next week,

– Andrew

P.S. Ready to build your own Vibe Consulting business? Book a 1:1 strategy call here