AI for Engineering Knowledge Management
Why Jon Hirschtick’s Involvement Matters for AI in Mechanical Engineering
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3 min read
Dr. Maor Farid
Maor Farid is the Co-Founder and CEO of Leo AI, the first AI platform purpose-built for mechanical engineers. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and completed postdoctoral research at MIT as a Fulbright fellow. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and former AI researcher and Mechanical Engineer in an elite military intelligence, Maor leads Leo AI's mission to transform how engineering teams design better products faster.
BOTTOM LINE
Jon Hirschtick's involvement with the MI Community signals what the next generation of engineering tools will look like: AI-native, community-driven, and built by practitioners who have already shipped products used by millions of engineers.
When the founder of SolidWorks joins the conversation about AI in mechanical engineering, it's worth paying attention.
The impact is quantifiable. Teams using Leo report 8.3+ hours saved per engineer per week. Design errors drop by 34%. And organizations see 211% faster time-to-market when their entire team has access to the same knowledge base instead of working in silos.
At Mechanical Intelligence (MI), we believe that ai is creating a turning point for the future of mechanical engineering and that we should embrace it and discover together the potential. Today, we’re excited to announce a major milestone: Jon Hirschtick, Chief Evangelist at PTC, Co-founder of Onshape by PTC, and Founder of SolidWorks, has officially joined the MI Community.
Join the MI Community on Reddit or on Facebook to connect with engineers worldwide and be part of the AI revolution in product design, CAD, and PLM.
Why Jon Hirschtick’s Involvement Matters for AI in Mechanical Engineering
Jon Hirschtick is one of the most influential figures in CAD software and product design automation. By founding SolidWorks, he brought CAD to the personal computer, making advanced product design accessible to engineers everywhere. Later, with Onshape, he pioneered cloud-based CAD, enabling engineers to collaborate in real time from anywhere in the world.
Now, as AI tools for mechanical engineers become the next frontier, Jon’s decision to join Mechanical Intelligence underscores the importance of this transformation. His experience in leading two CAD revolutions positions him to guide engineers through integrating AI into everyday workflows - from PLM data searches to CAD part design and beyond.
IN PRACTICE
What Engineers Are Saying
"I really think that Leo has the potential to change the way we think about engineering. The way we design."
— Javier Arca, Head of Hardware, HP
From CAD on the PC to CAD in the Cloud - and Now AI
Jon’s career is built on spotting the next big shift in engineering technology and delivering solutions that redefine the way we work.
SolidWorks democratized CAD by making it available on standard PCs.
Onshape removed hardware barriers and brought CAD to the cloud, enabling seamless collaboration.
AI in mechanical engineering is now enabling engineers to search CAD parts, retrieve documents from PLM systems, and automate repetitive design tasks - saving hours every week.
Tools like Leo AI are leading this change, giving engineers the ability to streamline product development and accelerate design cycles with powerful AI assistance.
A Call to Mechanical Engineers, Educators, and Innovators
We are at a turning point in mechanical engineering. Just as CAD software transformed product design in the 1990s and cloud collaboration reshaped workflows in the 2010s, AI will define the next decade.
Whether you’re:
A mechanical engineer looking to enhance your CAD workflow
An educator preparing students for the future of product design
An R&D professional seeking faster access to PLM data
…the MI Community is your gateway to leading this change.
Join us today:
Together, let’s lead the AI revolution in mechanical engineering.
Ready to try Leo? Try Leo Today
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