NEW YORK, June 24, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — PerkyPet AI, the vet-built AI platform for proactive pet health, has appointed veteran technology leader Jamal Jackson as Global Head of Applied AI. In this role, Jackson will lead the development and scale of the company’s AI capabilities, advancing PerkyPet AI’s mission to support more informed preventive care for pets and their parents through daily health monitoring.
“As an animal lover and pet parent of an 80-pound dog who has shaped everything from my daily routine to how I travel, this mission is deeply personal to me,” said Jackson. “I know how much can happen between routine vet visits and how difficult it can be to gauge whether a small behavior change is meaningful. What drew me to PerkyPet AI is that we’re building a clinically based system that helps pet parents understand their pet’s health over time, rather than just another chatbot that provides answers without context. My focus is to ensure our AI continues to meet the highest standards for safety, accuracy and reliability as we help families transition from reactive to proactive animal care.”
Jackson has more than 15 years of experience building and scaling technology products within enterprise organizations, emerging AI companies and startups, backed by renowned venture capitalists including Sequoia Capital, Founders Fund and Techstars. Before joining PerkyPet AI, he held technical leadership roles at companies such as Jumpcut, Box and Apple. At PerkyPet AI, his work will focus on strengthening AI systems that analyze daily health data, highlight important changes over time, and keep recommendations and guidance within clear safety barriers.
According to the American Pet Product Association (APPA), 95 million households in the US have pets, accounting for 71.6% of households nationwide. By 2026, sales of veterinary care and related products are expected to reach $42.4 billion.
PerkyPet AI is based on the principle that pet health is determined by daily decisions and behaviors between vet visits, not just during annual appointments. The platform acts as a centralized health record and intelligent monitoring system that allows pet parents to track diet, behavior, activity, symptoms, medications and other health indicators in one place, making it easier to identify shifts in a pet’s health over time.
“The AI industry has no shortage of people who can build impressive demos, but healthcare-related applications, like the PerkyPet AI model, require a different standard,” says Tim Maliyil, co-founder and CEO of PerkyPet AI. “Pet parents trust us with decisions that impact the well-being of a member of their family. Jamal understands that trust, safety and clinical accuracy are prerequisites for beneficial innovation, not limitations. He brings the technical depth, operational discipline and judgment we need as we continue to build PerkyPet AI.”
Jackson’s appointment underlines PerkyPet AI’s commitment to responsibly building AI in a healthcare-adjacent category where transparency, accountability and oversight are critical. Led by the company’s veterinary advisors and medical leadership, including co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Dara Huang, MD, MMSc, Jackson will ensure that PerkyPet AI intelligence systems are developed with the oversight, evaluation and safeguards necessary for use in the practice of pet health.
PerkyPet AI is actively preparing for a summer 2026 launch while continuing to expand its team, technology platform and veterinary partnerships. To learn more about how PerkyPet AI helps pets live longer, healthier, and happier lives through proactive, data-driven care, visit http://www.perkypetai.com.
About PerkyPet, Inc.
Founded in 2024, PerkyPet, Inc. is an AI-powered pet health monitoring platform designed to help pet parents better understand and manage the health of their pets between vet visits. By combining longitudinal health monitoring, vet-informed guidance and advanced AI, PerkyPet AI helps pet parents identify health trends, maintain comprehensive health records, monitor changes over time and make more informed decisions about when professional veterinary care may be needed.
About Jamal Jackson
Jamal Jackson is Global Head of Applied AI at PerkyPet AI, where he leads the development of veterinarian-powered artificial intelligence systems designed to help pet parents monitor health trends and make more informed care decisions. Jackson oversees AI governance, clinical safety frameworks and the continued evolution of PerkyPet AI’s longitudinal health information platform. He is a lifelong animal lover and pet advocate and is passionate about responsibly applying AI to improve animal health outcomes.
Media contact:
Cecily Parry, SHIFT Communications on behalf of PerkyPet AI
[email protected]
612-849-2174
