Russian Physicist Explains the Real Nature of Neural Networks and Their Role in Industry

AI lacks consciousness, but its usefulness spans medicine, nuclear energy, finance, and more—as long as humans know how to frame the right task.

At the Atomic Energy Information Center in Nizhny Novgorod, physicist and PhD Vladimir Klinshov gave a lecture on the rapid evolution of Russian AI technologies. His talk highlighted how neural networks, though made up of countless simple components, can tackle incredibly complex tasks—ranging from analyzing medical images to writing full-length articles.

But training AI is no simple feat. Klinshov likened the process to teaching a first-grader: the system makes many mistakes before mastering any new skill. Despite this, AI doesn't truly 'understand' what it’s doing. It operates without consciousness or context—yet that doesn’t diminish its utility.

Klinshov explained how neural networks are already transforming the nuclear sector, along with medicine, education, and finance. He emphasized that no neural network succeeds without a well-defined human task behind it. The discussion also touched on the types of jobs AI and robotics are expected to take over in the near future, both mental and physical.