100+ AI projects. $55B+ optimized. The rare person who speaks both data science and finance.
Luther Birdzell has delivered over 100 AI projects since 2013, helping optimize more than $55 billion in business value. Along the way, he noticed a pattern that keeps repeating:
CEOs know AI can create value. But they're stuck between two incomplete options.
They can hire data science consultants who build great models — but who present results in technical jargon that means nothing to a board. "Our model has 92% precision and 89% recall." Great. What does that mean for revenue?
Or they can hire management consultants who speak fluent finance — but who can't actually build the AI systems that create value at scale. Beautiful decks. No working product.
Luther realized he sits in a rare position: he's built AI systems AND presented their value to boards and investors. He speaks both languages fluently. And that combination — technical depth plus business fluency — is exactly what a Chief AI Officer does.
The problem? Most companies aren't ready for the $1M+ investment a Chief AI Officer requires. A qualified CAIO costs $500K+, and they need a 2-3 person data science team to build anything meaningful. Companies don't know what to look for, don't know what "good" looks like, and shouldn't have to bet over a million dollars to find out.
That's why DS2D exists. Luther acts as your Chief AI Officer on a fractional basis — giving you the AI leadership you need, at a fraction of the cost, with none of the hiring risk. And when you're ready for a full-time hire, he helps you find the right person and transitions the work.
Data science consultants build models. Luther builds models and translates their value into P&L impact, board presentations, and investor narratives. The model is only valuable if decision-makers understand what it does for the business.
Management consultants advise on strategy. Luther advises on strategy and builds the AI systems that execute it. No 200-page deck that sits on a shelf. Working systems that improve margins.
Luther has been a CEO. He's managed data science teams, pitched investors, justified AI budgets to boards. He knows what it's like to sit in your chair — and he knows exactly how to make AI pay for itself.
"The technology is rarely the problem. The problem is that nobody translates what the technology does into what the business needs. That's my job."
Most AI projects don't fail because of bad technology. They fail because the business case never gets made clearly enough for decision-makers to act on it. The models work. The communication doesn't.
Luther's approach: Understand the business first. Then build the AI that serves it. Not the other way around.
Start with a free 1-hour assessment. Luther will evaluate your data, your opportunities, and show you where AI can create the most value.
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