How AI Succeeds — Insights from Manufacturing Applications with Nikita Golovko

Most AI discussions confuse Large Language Models (LLMs) with AI as a whole. In this episode Eberhard sits down with Nikita Golovko — industrial AI architect and practitioner at Siemens — to challenge that view and explores what happens when probabilistic systems meet deterministic environments like industrial automation. We clarify the differences between LLMs, Generative AI, and other AI methods — and where each actually creates value. From there, the focus shifts to architecture: how to safely integrate probabilistic AI into systems that require reliability, precision, and control. Finally, we generalize these lessons beyond industry, showing how choosing the right tool for the right problem leads to better outcomes in any domain. Nikita will talk at the TechRiders Summit in Cologne. https://tech-riders.de/ Register for FREE with the rebate code ARCH-TECHRIDER-2026 . https://app.tech-riders.de/offers/1/book?v=ARCH-TECHRIDER-2026&pr=10 Links * ArcAI42 - Nikita’s AI extension for arc42 https://github.com/nikgolovko/arcai42 * KI = Bullshit? https://software-architektur.tv/2025/04/11/episode260.html * Michael Stal: Analyse großer Softwaresysteme mit LLMs https://software-architektur.tv/2026/04/02/episode308.html