Cleveland Company Pandata On The Forefront Of Ever-Evolving AI Technology
They provide “trusted and human-first AI”
By Douglas J. Guth, Special to Greater Cleveland Partnership
Artificial intelligence is a headline-maker in 2023, with pundits weighing the practical and ethical implications of this exploding technology. Yet, there is nothing new about humans harnessing AI, notes entrepreneur and data scientist Cal Al-Dhubaib.
From spam filters to autotype on smartphones, artificial intelligence is heavily integrated into our daily lives, says Al-Dhubaib, whose Cleveland-based business Pandata provides innovative data solutions to corporations, nonprofits and other clients under the banner of “trusted and human-first AI.”
The current age of content creation has put artificial intelligence under the spotlight — now anyone can use a computer to write a research paper or create art. Hollywood writers are currently on strike, in part, over fears they will be replaced by generative chatbots like ChatGPT.
“What’s shifted with AI is its visibility, and the newness of dealing with solutions that generate AI at scale,” says Al-Dhubaib, a native of Saudi Arabia now residing in Lakewood. “I preach that we shouldn’t read AI as one thing — it’s not a giant behemoth or one size fits all.”
Al-Dhubaib launched Pandata in 2016 after earning the first data science degree ever conferred from Case Western Reserve University. A long-time speaker and advocate for AI, Al-Dhubaib helps corporations and nonprofits use machine learning tools to solve problems and discover new efficiencies.
Clients include regional big hitters such as University Hospitals, Parker Hannifin, Hyland Software and the Cleveland Museum of Art. For UH, Pandata built a predictive model based on clinical factors and health determinants to prevent patient readmissions. The startup also helped the art museum in measuring data collected by the ArtLens visitor engagement app.
Pandata’s main focus is on heavily regulated industries such as healthcare, finance and energy — sectors where mistakes around data are costly and extra care is needed when designing and deploying solutions.
“The common theme is applying machine learning to sensitive data,” Al-Dhubaib says. “Today, that means dealing with complex machine learning applications working with text and visual data at high volumes, which can be millions of records and beyond.”
Cleveland as an AI hub
Al-Dhubaib spends a good portion of his year at forums and industry conferences speaking about the benefits of artificial intelligence. He attended 14 AI-focused events last year alone, meeting fellow leaders in the sector and encouraging reluctant executives to take the leap.
“If you’re not building that muscle today, you’re not going to have that muscle,” says Al-Dhubaib. “Leaders doing AI right are picking and choosing (this work) with a low cost of failure. They’re finding high-value use cases like copyright creation that are low-risk enough where you’re not impacting someone’s life.”
Meanwhile, Pandata continues to grow its foothold in the industry. Al-Dhubaib bootstrapped the business to over $1.3 million in revenue last year despite an economy still recovering from the pandemic.
The high-speed artificial intelligence industry does not have to be relegated to the coasts, Al-Dhubaib adds. The tech entrepreneur views Greater Cleveland as a future hub of human-centered AI innovation and application, thanks to deep industry roots and unparalleled cost of living. Local talent is more connected with family, or, like Al-Dhubaib, came to Cleveland for college and decided to stay.
“We have amazing research institutions in our backyard,” says Al-Dhubaib. “Our healthcare economy is why my company has done so much work in this area.”
Al-Dhubaib also points to professors at Case Western who navigated him into a data science career. Peer entrepreneurs served as guides as well, answering the nascent innovator’s questions on a local industry with very few data scientists. He is also a member of GCP’s Tech Advisory Board, assisting the team in devising content aimed at students and employers in the industry.
Though bullish about Cleveland as an industry leader, a conservative venture capital environment continues to stifle the city’s potential, says Al-Dhubaib. Entrepreneurs require a high level of proof to fundraise as compared to the coasts, resulting in talent leaving Cleveland for less risk-averse regions.
“The remedies are realistic for enterprises to make it easier to do business with entrepreneurs,” Al-Dhubaib says. “Take meetings, provide feedback on early prototypes, and help them find a market fit. That will increase the credibility of entrepreneurs and help them raise capital.”
With AI approaching mass adoption at astonishing speeds, everyone from CEOs to regular office workers can be part of a robust high-tech ecosystem, says Al-Dhubaib.
“Even as an employee you can advocate for this ecosystem,” Al-Dhubaib says. “Get friends to move here and show why Cleveland is a good place to live.”
Greater Cleveland Partnership’s All In vision for a Great Region on a Great Lake has five key priorities: Dynamic Business, Abundant Talent, Inclusive Opportunity, Appealing Community and Business Confidence. All of our work ties back to these values. This story relates to Dynamic Business and Appealing Community.
