# Is AI an Engineering Teammate in Hardware Design?

- Show: [OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack)
- Published: 2026-01-08
- Length: 35m
- Episode: 329
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design
- Listen: https://podcast.altium.com/e/is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design/

## Summary

Avinash Harsh, co-founder of Wizerr AI, explains how his platform acts as an AI teammate for hardware engineers by providing a component intelligence layer that bridges the gap between design intent and procurement. He details how Wizerr AI analyzes thousands of data sheets to suggest functionally equivalent alternatives, reducing design risk and optimizing bills of material (BOM) before production. Harsh argues that while software can ship fast, hardware must ship right, and AI agents can help make better decisions faster by carrying design context through the fragmented electronics value chain. The discussion covers the transition from parametric search to intent-based selection, the integration of reliability data, and the vision of embedding this intelligence directly into tools like Altium Designer.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=0) Introduction: Avinash Harsh and Wizerr AI
- [1:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=81) Harsh's Background: From Siemens to Software and Hardware
- [3:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=192) The Problem: Losing Design Intent and High Respin Costs
- [5:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=314) Wizerr's Component Intelligence Layer and Functional Equivalents
- [11:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=688) Agentic Workflows: Design-to-Source and BOM Optimization
- [15:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=938) Handling Reliability, Qualification, and Proprietary Data
- [21:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=1264) Agentic AI Applications and Design Reviews
- [26:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=1604) Decoupling Electrical and Firmware/Embedded Development
- [29:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=1744) Roadmap: Integration with EDA Tools and Self-Learning
- [32:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-08-is-ai-an-engineering-teammate-in-hardware-design#t=1964) AI as a Teammate: Enhancing Creativity and Workflow

## Topics

- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Wizerr AI (company)
- Altium (company)
- OpenELX (other)
- Siemens (company)
- NEC Japan (company)
- LTX (company)
- Octopart (company)
- Digiki (other)
- Mauser (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Can AI Design IoT Hardware? | Flux's Matthias Wagner | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2026-04-14-can-ai-design-iot-hardware-fluxs-matthias-wagner-internet-of-things-podcast) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [205: Advances in Electronic Product Engineering Methods](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-12-14-205-advances-in-electronic-product-engineering-methods) (Product Startup)
- [Context, Tools, and Trust:Missing Ingredients in Many AI Strategies, with Luminovo's Timon Ruban](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-04-30-context-tools-and-trust-missing-ingredients-in-many-ai-strategies-with-luminovos) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [251. Michael Corr & Justin Sears on How Altium & Duro Are Fueling the Next Generation of Hardware Startups](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-09-28-251-michael-corr-justin-sears-on-how-altium-duro-are-fueling-the-next-generation) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [AI Tooling with Matt Liberty and Luke Beno](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-04-23-ai-tooling-with-matt-liberty-and-luke-beno) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

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