Mechanical Intelligence with Dr. Maor Farid

Nico Haag | Simulation Engineering Director at PhysicsX

Nico Haag, Simulation Engineering Director at PhysicsX, joins Dr. Maor Farid to unpack how AI is transforming engineering by turning complex physical problems into clear, real-time insights. Nico explains how large physics models enable engineers to map geometry directly to physical behavior, dramatically reducing simulation time while expanding the number of design possibilities teams can explore. The conversation also gets practical about adoption: how AI reshapes traditional engineering workflows, why speed alone isn’t enough without trust, and how deterministic models and uncertainty quantification enable reliable decision-making. Nico also shares how these technologies allow engineers to go beyond human intuition, explore larger design spaces, and ultimately deliver better products faster.

Peter Lyu | Field CTO & VP of Solutions at Luminary

Peter Lyu, Field CTO & VP of Solutions at Luminary, joins Dr. Maor Farid to unpack how AI is actually transforming mechanical engineering workflows, without the hype. Peter explains how large physics models are enabling real-time simulation by mapping geometry directly to physical outcomes, reducing analysis time from hours or weeks to seconds. The conversation also gets practical about adoption: how AI changes the traditional design–analysis loop, why deterministic models and grounded data are critical for trust, and how engineers can validate results while dramatically increasing speed and efficiency. Peter also shares how these tools allow engineers to explore more design options, iterate faster, and move beyond traditional limitations, while maintaining engineering rigor and accountability.

Yoni Nir | V12 Program Manager at HP

Yoni Nir, V12 Program Manager at HP, joins Dr. Maor Farid to share a practical, grounded perspective on how AI will impact mechanical engineering in real-world, high-complexity systems. Yoni explains why AI adoption in engineering depends on both risk and complexity, and why high-risk, multi-physics systems will take longer to fully transition to AI-first workflows. The conversation also explores what AI will realistically change first: freeing engineers from tedious work like part selection, data retrieval, and documentation, while enabling them to focus on higher-value design decisions. Yoni shares how this shift could lead to a “golden age” of mechanical engineering, where engineers become significantly more productive, while still maintaining full responsibility for critical decisions.

Moshe Baum | Founder & Engineering Expert, Wild West Systems (Ex-SpaceX, Apple, Tesla)

Moshe Baum, Founder of Wild West Systems and former engineer at SpaceX, Tesla, and Apple, joins Dr. Maor Farid to share lessons from some of the world’s most demanding engineering environments. Moshe explains why strong fundamentals and first-principles thinking remain the most critical skills for engineers, especially in an era where AI is rapidly changing how work gets done. The conversation dives into practical career advice: the importance of hands-on experience, understanding full product lifecycles, and making real-world trade-offs across design, materials, and manufacturing. Moshe also shares how AI is already changing engineering workflows, why trust remains a key barrier to full adoption, and how engineers should approach new tools with curiosity, skepticism, and a focus on real-world impact.

Jon Hirschtick | Chief Evangelist at PTC

Jon Hirschtick, Chief Evangelist at PTC and co-founder of SolidWorks and Onshape, joins the conversation to share his perspective on how AI is transforming product design and engineering. This time, instead of Dr. Maor Farid, the discussion is led by Sean Manzanares, bringing a slightly different angle to the conversation. Jon explains why we are still in the early days of AI in engineering, and why he sees AI not as a single application, but as an entirely new class of tools that fundamentally change how problems are solved. The conversation explores how AI is expanding across the entire product development lifecycle—from CAD and CAM to PDM and manufacturing—and how engineers should think about different levels of maturity, from early prototypes to production-ready tools. Jon also shares why engineers should embrace multiple AI tools, how platforms like Leo complement existing systems, and why the biggest opportunity lies in rethinking workflows rather than simply automating existing ones.