NC State Professor Vijay K. Shah Launches AI Startup to Make Machine Learning Accessible

Vijay K. Shah, Assistant Professor in NC State’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is bringing his research into the real world through his startup All Things Intelligence Inc. The company’s flagship product, Neuralsmith, enables users to build machine learning (ML) models by uploading data and describing objectives in plain English. The platform automates the complex ML workflow process — from data preprocessing to model training — and delivers a high-performing production-ready ML model in minutes to hours, which typically takes weeks or months.

“Our goal is to make AI accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical background,” says Shah. “By automating the complexities of machine learning, we empower users to leverage AI in their work without needing to become experts themselves.”

Currently in closed beta, NeuralSmith supports image and tabular datasets. The team is gathering feedback to refine features and plans to expand to other data types soon. Users can interact in plain English with the NeuralSmith conversational agent, which guides them through every step, simplifying the complex ML workflow from uploading a dataset to obtaining a production-ready, customized ML model.

Shah notes that traditional ML workflows often require specialized knowledge and extensive experimentation. “Even experienced ML engineers, researchers, and enthusiasts spend weeks – sometimes months – on tasks like data preprocessing, hyperparameter tuning and model evaluation,” he says. “NeuralSmith streamlines this process, allowing users to focus on solving real problems rather than managing technical details. Early experiments across multiple tabular and image datasets show NeuralSmith generates the top 2% of ML models across multiple tabular and image datasets. It also delivers strong, consistent results on MLE-bench Lite, a light version of the MLE-bench suite for evaluating AI agents on machine learning engineering tasks.” They will release a detailed benchmark report documenting MLE-bench results, along with practical implementation guidelines, soon.

Shah’s background in AI-native wireless communication and network technologies at NC State’s NextG Wireless Lab informs NeuralSmith’s approach, ensuring the platform addresses real-world needs across industries such as telecommunications, finance, and healthcare.

All Things Intelligence, the parent company, plans to introduce additional AI products in the coming months. NeuralSmith represents a critical step in building a broader ecosystem of AI tools that prioritize accessibility and practical impact.

Currently self-funded, the company has launched a closed beta to build a community of users; it aims to attract investors, scale NeuralSmith, and expand its availability to professionals and organizations.

By turning research into industry-ready solutions, Shah is not only advancing his field but also strengthening NC State’s reputation for innovation and entrepreneurship.

For more information or to participate in the beta program, visit Neuralsmith’s website.