Founder & Principal | Physical AI | Industrial AI
Mohammed Cherifi
17+ years of software engineering, product leadership, and management at companies where software meets the physical world. At Cisco, I shipped network and video software to 100M+ users — including AI-based recommendation engines, the first smartphone remote for set-top boxes, and Android ports on open-source hardware. At Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, I led the software-defined mobility platform powering NissanConnect across 39 countries — 4M+ connected users — the same platform that hosts AI agents today. At ABB E-mobility, I drove go-to-market for EV charging infrastructure. Then I built Auralink: 1.7M lines of code co-developed with AI, ~20 autonomous agents, 78% incident resolution — arXiv preprint. Most AI consulting stops at strategy decks. I ship production systems that control physical infrastructure. I created the Physical AI Stack because no framework existed to help organisations move from cloud AI to systems that control real-world assets.
Four technical eras, one continuous thread
From embedded foundations to embodied, open-weight AI
Embedded foundations
NDS / Cisco
Embedded Linux, Android and open-source integration for production connected-device platforms.
Software-defined mobility
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi
Connected vehicles, software-defined platforms and OTA — 4M+ connected users across 39 countries.
Physical infrastructure
ABB E-mobility
Software-defined EV charging and industrial infrastructure — edge operations, fleet and service operations.
Embodied & open-weight AI
Hyperion
Auralink, Reachy-LeRobot, robotics, VLM/VLA, Mistral and open-weight intelligence — edge and on-premise, with safety and governance.
The Physical AI Career
17+ years of software engineering, product, and leadership at Cisco, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, and ABB — building the systems where AI meets the physical world.
NDS / Cisco Systems
Senior Program Manager
100M+ users | 3 continents
- Physical AI Layer: COMPUTE + ORCHESTRATE — network & video infrastructure platforms, software-defined systems
- 100M+ users impacted via set-top boxes across Europe, North America, and Asia
- Shipped an Android TV integration for pay-TV operators. Embedded Linux and open-source integration
- 9 years from intern to Senior Program Manager. Code in production, not just in presentations
Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi
Deputy GM Connected Car Services RNM Alliance
4M+ connected users | NissanConnect | 39 countries
- Physical AI Layer: CONNECT + REASON — software-defined mobility platform, AI-powered connected services
- Shipped the Google-built-in head unit (OpenR Link) — NissanConnect serving 4M+ users across 39 countries
- Connected-vehicle services across 4 vehicle launches: Megane E-Tech, Austral, Rafale, Scenic
- Promoted 4 times. Led cross-functional teams across France, India, and Japan
ABB E-mobility
Product Marketing Team Lead
- Physical AI Layer: ACT + ORCHESTRATE — EV charging infrastructure, software-defined charging networks
- Product lead for the A400 charger: 400kW ultra-fast EV charging. Full go-to-market for the Terra Series
- Marketing lead for OS Charging software — the platform powering ABB's global charger network
Executive Education
Executive education from UC Berkeley, MIT, and Kellogg. Each credential backs a specific capability I bring to your engagement.
Certificate of Business Excellence
UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
AI, Platform Strategy, Systems Engineering, IoT, Cybersecurity
MIT Professional Education
Product Management Certification
Kellogg Executive Education, Northwestern University
Certified Scrum Product Owner & Agile Leader
Scrum Alliance
MSc Networks & Telecommunications
Paris-Saclay University
Engineering Degree in Computer Science (AI & Data Science)
University of Oran
Recognition & Appointments
Industry recognition and leadership appointments
- arXiv Preprint — 'Autonomous Edge-Deployed AI Agents for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Management' (arxiv.org/abs/2603.08736) — Physical AI preprint
- Forbes Technology Council Member (since 2021)
- Creator of the Physical AI Stack — a framework for AI-native physical infrastructure
- Senior Executive AI ThinkTank Member (since 2025) — invitation-only leadership network
- Berkeley SkyDeck Key Advisor (since 2022) — selected to advise UC Berkeley's top accelerator
- Board Member, La French Tech Athens — representing French tech ecosystem in Greece
- French Government AI Ambassador for Industry under Osez l'IA (2025) — appointed by the French ministry responsible for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs
- Published Forbes.com Contributor
- FranceNum Activateur — Referenced Digital Transformation Expert (2025)
In the Field
Selected public events and programme appointments.
Emmanuel Macron · Kyriakos Mitsotakis
President of France · Prime Minister of Greece
France–Greece state visit.
Emmanuel Macron · Kyriakos Mitsotakis
President of France · Prime Minister of Greece
Tech and innovation delegation, France–Greece bilateral programme.
Emmanuel Macron
President of France
France–Greece state visit programme.
France–Greece Summit
Heads of state, ministers, and tech delegation
Bilateral programme on AI, industry, and digital infrastructure.
Benjamin Haddad
French Minister for Europe
Appointment, French Ministry for Europe.
Anne Le Hénanff
French Minister for AI and Digital Affairs
Osez l'IA programme — accelerating AI adoption across French industry.
Roland Lescure
French Minister for the Economy
Appointment, French Ministry for the Economy.
Clara Chappaz
AI Ambassador for France (former Minister for AI and Digital Affairs)
Ambassadeurs IA programme — building French AI capability.
Laurence Auer
Ambassador of France to Greece
France–Greece diplomatic programme.
Luc Julia
AI scientist · co-creator of Siri
Meeting with Luc Julia, AI scientist.
Ambassadeurs IA
French Government AI Ambassador appointment
Appointment ceremony for the Ambassadeurs IA programme.
La French Tech
French and European tech ecosystem
La French Tech Athens — bridging French and Greek tech ecosystems.
Paris | Randstad | Athens
Why I Do This
After 17+ years building software for the physical world at Cisco, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi, and ABB, I could have joined another Fortune 500. Instead, I chose a harder path: helping European companies ship AI that actually works. I believe European businesses deserve better than what the consulting industry gives them. Better than Strategy Theatre. Better than Permanent Pilots. Better than Consultant Dependency. I operate across France, Greece, and the Netherlands. I speak French, English, Arabic, and Greek. I believe in European AI sovereignty--not as a slogan, but as production systems built and operated in Europe. The best part of this work? Watching the moment it clicks. When an organisation moves from AI confusion to AI confidence. From endless pilots to production systems. From vendor dependency to internal capability. European industry deserves AI architects who've actually shipped, not consultants who advise from the sidelines. That transformation is why I chose this.
Ready to Ship Your AI?
30 minutes. No pitch, no pressure. An honest conversation about your challenge and whether I can help. If I'm not the right fit, I'll tell you and point you somewhere better.