Karl Zhao

Dr. Karl Zhao, Vice President of Engineering, leads CloudMinds’ Cloud Brain – Human Augmented Robot Intelligence with eXtreme reality (HARIX) research and development effort. HARIX serves as the common platform for all Cloud Robotics and connected devices product and services including XR-1, Cloudia, Cloud Pepper, Cloud Raman and so on. Karl is also in charge of SmartVision and SmartMotion as well as multi-modal AI technology research and development team. Karl is responsible for CloudMinds’ Cloud Brain – HARIX and AI technology roadmap, partnership, and thought leadership.

Prior to joining CloudMinds in 2018, Karl was the head of engineering of mobile app and video for OpenX, one of the largest independent ad exchanges in the world. He led the architecture, design, development and deployment of low latency and high throughput cloud-based mobile app and video ad exchange capable of handling multi-billion requests per day. The mobile app and video revenue grew 800% in two and a half years. He joined OpenX from ATT as lead system architect for efficient video delivery over wired and wireless network. Karl had extensive experience in innovative human machine interface, multimedia user experience products and services and media processors with startups as well as Fortune 100 companies.

Karl has gained technical expertise in many domains: Machine Learning, Computer Vision, Vision-based Robotics Manipulation and Grasping, ASR, NLP; AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Cloud migration and multi-cloud deployments, Kubernetes, Docker; WebRTC, HLS, DSH, RTP, RTSP; H.265, H.264, AAC, AC-3; Massive multiplayer online gaming (MMO) system, Unity game engine; Linux, Android, iOS, Embedded Linux, Real-Time Operating System (RTOS), Robotics Operating System (ROS) and ROS2  etc. He has established relationships with a wide spectrum of customers and partners such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Associated Press, Zynga, Sega, Unity, Motorola, Whirlpool, Precor, UTstarcom, ARM, Nvidia, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Intel and so on. Throughout his career, Karl has always been passionate to lead the successful development and commercialization of cutting edge technologies in the emerging markets.

Karl holds Doctorate and Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University and Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University. He was a visiting scholar at Stanford University.