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ahmedbaracat

128 karma · joined July 23, 2015

Cobot de-palletizing AI | ML@Amazon/Meta

ko-br: https://ko-br.com Personal website: https://barac.at

submissionscomments
ahmedbaracat··on Motorola Signature 27 with GrapheneOS support
I personally am glad that we have an option instead of relying on Google pixel. Is it expensive, maybe, b it if you c compare to a flagship iPhone, the specs are quite good. Looking forward to trying it out.
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2026)
ko-br | Engineering, sales, operations | San Francisco, CA / London, UK / Cairo, Egypt | Full-time | https://ko-br.com

We give robots the ability to reliably perform mundane manufacturing work. Come build with us

We are looking for:

* Founding Software Engineers

* Founding Deployment & Operations Engineers

* Founding Sales Engineers

* Robot Teleoperators

Apply here: https://app.dover.com/jobs/ko-br

ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (May 2026)
ko-br | Robotics, Computer Vision, Imitation Learning, Reinforcement Learning Engineers & Reserchers | https://ko-br.com | Cairo, Egypt & London, UK

We build Physical AI models deployable today in warehouses to solve mundane tasks like palletizing. Our tech lets robotic arms adapt to mixed SKUs, grip slips, and chaotic environments in real time.

Have a read through our manifesto: https://ko-br.com/manifesto

We want you if you solve problems like an owner (no ego, no blockers). Don’t say "it won’t work." Try it. Validate it. Ship it.

Engineering roles:

  — You're hands-on, no theory, just building
  — Experienced engineer? Great! Recent grad/PhD? Don't get discouraged, apply if you're itching to ship real products
Why join?

  — Generous base + equity
  — Work with state-of-the-art AI and real robots (UR/ABB/KUKA/FANUC).
  — Build tech that solves valuable problems today.
About me: Ex-Amazon/Meta. Built AI from satellite imagery to nanotech SEM, powered Alexa’s vision, led ML for WhatsApp. Now building robots that adapt to chaos.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmadbaracat

Apply: https://ko-br.com/careers

ahmedbaracat··on Autoresearch: Agents researching on single-GPU nanochat training automatically
I am in the process of figuring out how to do something similar but to teach a robotic arm a new task in the physical world for ko-br: https://ko-br.com/
ahmedbaracat··on Leaving Google has actively improved my life
When I moved off Google, I used DuckDuckGo (search) and Proton/Fastmail (email). But now I am using Kagi (search & assistant) and Hey (email) and couldn’t be happier :). Highly recommended.
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (December 2025)
ko-br | Robotics, Computer Vision, Imitation Learning, Reinforcement Learning Researchers & Engineers | https://ko-br.com | Cairo, Egypt & London, UK

We build Physical AI models deployable today in warehouses to solve mundane tasks like palletizing. Our tech lets robotic arms adapt to mixed SKUs, grip slips, and chaotic environments in real time.

Have a read through our manifesto: https://ko-br.com/manifesto

We want you if you solve problems like an owner (no ego, no blockers). Don’t say "it won’t work." Try it. Validate it. Ship it.

Engineering roles:

  — You're hands-on, no theory, just building
  — Experienced engineer? Great! Recent grad/PhD? Don't get discouraged, apply if you're itching to ship real products
Why join?

  — Generous base + equity
  — Work with state-of-the-art AI and real robots (UR/ABB/KUKA/FANUC).
  — Build tech that solves valuable problems today.
About me: Ex-Amazon/Meta. Built AI from satellite imagery to nanotech SEM, powered Alexa’s vision, led ML for WhatsApp. Now building robots that adapt to chaos.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmadbaracat

Apply: https://ko-br.com/careers

ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (November 2025)
ko-br | Computer Vision, Imitation Learning, Reinforcement Learning Researchers & Engineers | https://ko-br.com | REMOTE (Globally)

We build Physical AI models deployable today in warehouses to solve mundane tasks like palletizing. Our tech lets robotic arms adapt to mixed SKUs, grip slips, and chaotic environments in real time.

Have a read through our manifesto: https://ko-br.com/manifesto

We want you if You solve problems like an owner (no ego, no blockers). Don’t say "it won’t work." Try it. Validate it. Ship it.

Engineering roles:

  — You're hands-on, no theory, just building
  — Experienced engineer? Great! Recent grad/PhD? Don't get discouraged, apply if you're itching to ship real products
Why join?

  — Generous base + equity
  — Work with state-of-the-art AI and real robots (UR/ABB/KUKA/FANUC).
  — Build tech that solves valuable problems today.
About me: Ex-Amazon/Meta. Built AI from satellite imagery to nanotech SEM, powered Alexa’s vision, led ML for WhatsApp. Now building robots that adapt to chaos.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmadbaracat

Apply: https://ko-br.com/careers

ahmedbaracat··on Beaver-engineered dam in the Czech Republic
Thanks for sharing. Beavers are my favorite animals and the trailer is actually quite nice.
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (September 2025)
ko-br | cofounders hunting and founding members across design, engineering, research and business development | https://ko-br.com | Onsite (SF, USA)

Looking for another technical cofounder, a commercial cofounder (work closely with Stacey, our advisor and ex-CCO of universal Robots) and founding members. If interested, let’s catchup over coffee in sf in sep.

P.S. we are closing our pre-seed round soon so don’t worry about our runway :)

—

It’s a shame that we have unbelievably good hardware like collaborative robots (cobots) that could transform warehouses and yet they still struggle with basic tasks like unloading mixed pallets. Why? Because today's software can't handle real-world chaos.

That's where we come in. At ko-br, we're building the AI brains that make robots truly adaptable. Our physical AI models tackle messy, unstructured problems starting with depalletizing of mixed boxes in dynamic warehouses. Think real-time adaptation to shifting pallets, mixed SKUs, and unexpected failures.

We're a deep tech startup at the crossroads of AI, robotics, and human-machine interface. While warehouses are our first battlefield, our core mission is physical AI. So you need to be comfortable with the idea of pivoting to other sectors like education (ex: building robots for schools and universities).

Curious about our philosophy? Dive into our manifesto: https://ko-br.com/manifesto

—

We're hiring generalists across design, engineering, research, and business development. If you thrive on agency: designing, building, and shipping products end-to-end, join us :).

We offer strong base salaries and we don’t shy from offering large equities, following PG advise: https://www.paulgraham.com/equity.html

Apply here: https://ko-br.com/careers

—

About me: Ex-Amazon/Meta, 2x founder (agritech & gaming). Built ML models and infra for everything from satellite imagery to nanotech, powered Alexa's vision, and led ML for WhatsApp.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmadbaracat

ahmedbaracat··on I want everything local – Building my offline AI workspace
Thanks for sharing. Note that the GitHub at the end of the article is not working…
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (August 2025)
Yup.
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (August 2025)
ko-br | Hiring across design, engineering, research and business development | https://ko-br.com | Onsite (London, UK or Cairo, Egypt)

It’s a shame that we have unbelievably good hardware like collaborative robots (cobots) that could transform warehouses and yet they still struggle with basic tasks like unloading mixed pallets. Why? Because today's software can't handle real-world chaos.

That's where we come in. At ko-br, we're building the AI brains that make robots truly adaptable. Our physical AI models tackle messy, unstructured problems starting with depalletizing of mixed boxes in dynamic warehouses. Think real-time adaptation to shifting pallets, mixed SKUs, and unexpected failures.

We're a deep tech startup at the crossroads of AI, robotics, and human-machine interaction. While warehouses are our first battlefield, our core mission is physical AI. So you need to be comfortable with the idea of pivoting to other sectors like education (ex: building robots for schools and universities).

Curious about our philosophy? Dive into our manifesto: https://ko-br.com/manifesto

—

We're hiring generalists across design, engineering, research, and business development. If you thrive on agency: designing, building, and shipping products end-to-end, join u :).

We offer strong base salaries: £100k+. We don’t shy from offering large equities, following PG advise: https://www.paulgraham.com/equity.html

Apply here: https://ko-br.com/careers

—

About me: Ex-Amazon/Meta. Built AI for everything from satellite imagery to nanotech, powered Alexa's vision, and led ML for WhatsApp.

—

P.S. We'll be in SF USA this fall, say hi if you're around :)

ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (July 2025)
Greatly appreciate it, Chai. Will get in touch soon :)
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (July 2025)
Thanks Daulet for the kind words. Appreciate you taking the time to fill the form. Will reach out soon :))
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (July 2025)
ko-br | Computer Vision, Imitation Learning, Backend Engineers & Business Dev | https://ko-br.com | Onsite (London, UK or Cairo, Egypt)

We build Physical AI for warehouses—solving palletizing, kitting, and pick/pack tasks that giants like Amazon/ABB/Universal Robots haven't cracked. Our tech lets cobots adapt to mixed SKUs, grip slips, and chaotic environments in real time. No reconfiguration. No coding. Just results.

Have a read through our manifesto: https://ko-br.com/manifesto

We want you if You solve problems like an owner (no ego, no blockers)

Engineering roles:

  — You're hands-on, no theory, just building
  — Experienced engineer? Great! Recent grad/PhD? Don't get discouraged, apply if you're itching to ship real products
Business Development:

  — You've closed deals in robotics, warehouse automation, or enterprise SaaS
  — Happy to wear multiple hats across commercial functions (partnerships, strategy, etc.)
Why join?

  — £100k base + equity
  — Work with state-of-the-art AI and real cobots (UR/ABB/KUKA).
  — Build tech that solves valuable problems—today.
Our way of working: Don’t say "it won’t work." Try it. Validate it. Ship it.

About me: Ex-Amazon/Meta. Built AI from satellite imagery to nanotech SEM, powered Alexa’s vision, led ML for WhatsApp. Now building robots that adapt to chaos.

Apply: https://ko-br.com/careers

ahmedbaracat··on We accidentally solved robotics by watching 1M hours of YouTube
Well, there’s a middle ground, kinda. Using more specialized hardware (ex: cobots) but deploy state-of-art Physical AI (ML/Computer Vision) on them. We’re building one such startup at ko-br (https://ko-br.com/) :))
ahmedbaracat··on Las Vegas is embracing a simple climate solution: More trees
Couldn’t agree more. Wrote this few years back:

https://barac.at/essays/we-only-need-to-plant-1-trillion-tre...

ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (May 2025)
ko-br | Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) | Europe/London (preferred) | Equity + Leadership Role

We’re ko-br – a London-based AI robotics startup on a mission to end the "3AM cobot meltdown" in warehouses. Our robots handle real-world chaos (grip slips, conveyor jams, dust storms) through:

* No-code AI that plugs into ABB/KUKA/UR arms

* Self-recovery protocols proven to reduce emergency calls by 85%

* Human-taught systems that turn warehouse teams into robot mentors

Why This Matters

Industrial robots keep failing when faced with mixed SKUs or shifted pallets. We’re fighting this $35B conformity crisis (see manifesto) by building robots that adapt to humans – not the other way around.

We Need You If You’ve…

* Scaled commercial ops in industrial tech/robotics/AI

* Closed 6-7 figure deals within the logistics space

* Built partner ecosystems around OEMs like ABB/KUKA

* Crave building vs. babysitting (this is hands-on founding role)

Founding Team

* Founder: Ex-Amazon/Meta ML engineer, expertise in ML infrastructure, computer vision, distributed systems, and building Internet-scale ML pipelines.

* Team: 40+ years combined expertise in VR, ML, robotics, MLOps, data annotation and cybersecurity

Apply

Email hiring@ko-br.com with subject “CCO REBELLION” + 2-sentence pitch on how you’d attack our £1B market playbook.

Manifesto: https://ko-br.com/manifesto

ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (April 2025)
ko-br | Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) | Europe/London (preferred) | Equity + Leadership Role

We’re ko-br—a London-based robotics AI startup automating variable warehouse operations (palletizing, kitting) with AI-powered robots that handle real-world chaos (grip slips, conveyor jams, dust storms). Our no-code solution plugs into ABB/KUKA/UR arms, saving clients 85% on emergency calls.

The Rebellion:

We’re fighting the “3AM cobot meltdown” industrial hangover. Our robots learn from humans, adapt to chaos, and recover autonomously—no coding, no all-nighters.

Our manifesto: https://ko-br.com/manifesto

The Role:

As CCO, you’ll co-lead our commercial strategy, build partnerships (ABB, KUKA), and scale revenue. This is a co-founder role with significant equity.

You:

- Built sales engines in robotics/AI/industrial tech

- Have logistics/manufacturing contacts

- Thrive in early-stage chaos

- Want to turn warehouse workers into robot mentors

Why Join?

- Founder: Ex-Amazon/Meta ML engineer, expertise in ML infrastructure, computer vision, distributed systems, and building Internet-scale ML pipelines.

- Team: 40+ years combined expertise in VR, ML, robotics, MLOps, data annotation and cybersecurity

Apply: Email hiring@ko-br.com with “CCO Rebellion” in subject. Let’s automate drudgery, not creativity.

No recruiters. Let’s build robots that respect humans.

ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Brutal Feedback on Our AI Robotics Pitch Deck?
Thanks so much @chfritz for the honest feedback and for taking the time to go through the pitch deck in detail. Super valuable.
ahmedbaracat··on ChatGPT Search
Are you referring to Kagi Assistant?

https://help.kagi.com/kagi/ai/assistant.html

ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Looking for angel investors for my AI/ML and Robotics Startup
Thank you. That’s good feedback. Thank you for taking the time to go through them :)
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Looking for angel investors for my AI/ML and Robotics Startup
Responded on LI
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Looking for angel investors for my AI/ML and Robotics Startup
Nope. We are building on top of that research.
ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: Subscription Service Without Accounts?
Wow. This is the first time I hear about Mullvad as a service. I live their account number approach. No email or other identifier needed. Love it.
ahmedbaracat··on Is Telegram really an encrypted messaging app?
I would recommend reading these resources:

The Internet Is Broken: https://secushare.org/broken-internet

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Online Anonymity: https://anonymousplanet.org/guide.html

Pointers to more resources: https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/15005-books-or-sources-on-p...

ahmedbaracat··on Is Telegram really an encrypted messaging app?
I am recommending both. The problem is that Signal (which I use along with the other messaging apps) is that it is not feature rich as the other 2 and Signal is not popular so ppl download it just to interact with one person (Me) whereas Telegram has more user base.
ahmedbaracat··on Is Telegram really an encrypted messaging app?
I am wondering if there was any incident that disproved the “we have disclosed 0 bytes of user data to third parties, including governments.” statement.
ahmedbaracat··on Is Telegram really an encrypted messaging app?
Are there any pointers for work to try to make metadata private (I.e encrypted)?

I was recently very curious about this question and asked similar ones here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41267877

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41270863

On a side note, I was just recommending Telegram as alternative to WhatsApp (but I did mention that we need to enable Private chats for E2E). It is definitely not an ideal UX.

https://barac.at/essays/on-leaving-meta

ahmedbaracat··on Ask HN: What are you working on (August 2024)?
Working on: https://www.mylondonhomesearch.co.uk/

To help Londoners find their perfect home by filtering for proximity to parks, river, PoIs, commute time, etc.

The website is not optimized for mobile and customers have to pay to access the functional filters/properties.

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