Polosukhin: Technology architect at the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain

Ilya Polosukhin is one of the most influential figures in the modern technological revolution, leaving a profound mark in two fundamentally different yet historically interconnected fields: artificial intelligence and decentralized technologies. His career demonstrates a rare ability to transfer innovative ideas from one industry to another, each time redefining the boundaries of what is possible. Polosukhin’s contribution to the development of the technological landscape goes far beyond individual projects — he has set standards that guide an entire generation of developers and researchers.

From MIPT to Google: Becoming an Expert in Machine Learning

Polosukhin’s educational background was formed at one of Russia’s leading technical institutions — Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), where he gained deep knowledge in computer science and mathematical fundamentals of computing. This institution is known for producing specialists capable of working at the forefront of engineering thought, and Polosukhin fully lived up to those expectations.

He began his professional career at Google, where he spent over seven years involved in the development of TensorFlow — one of the most significant machine learning libraries in the history of information technology. TensorFlow became the go-to tool for researchers and practitioners worldwide, democratizing access to deep learning tools for a broad audience. This period shaped his understanding of how proper software architecture can democratize access to complex technologies.

Creating NEAR Protocol: Vision of a Scalable Blockchain

Alongside his work in artificial intelligence, Polosukhin recognized a pressing problem in the blockchain ecosystem: existing protocols were complex for developers and unfriendly to end users. At this moment, the idea of NEAR Protocol was born — a blockchain platform designed with user-friendliness as its core philosophy.

NEAR Protocol, created under Polosukhin’s leadership, stands out from competitors by focusing on user experience and scalability. The protocol employs innovative approaches to data processing and state management, enabling developers to create decentralized applications (DApps) without needing deep cryptographic expertise. The main network of the protocol was launched in 2020, setting a new standard for how blockchain systems should be designed.

An Innovation Drive: From Technology to Ecosystem

Polosukhin’s influence is evident not only in the technical characteristics of his projects but also in the fundamental shift in how technological systems are designed. TensorFlow democratized access to machine learning tools, allowing researchers worldwide to conduct breakthrough work without requiring massive computational resources from large corporations.

In the blockchain space, his vision led to the development of an entire ecosystem. Aurora, a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum built on NEAR Protocol and launched in 2021, demonstrates how Polosukhin’s architectural solutions can address issues in other blockchain systems. The DeFi ecosystem built on NEAR showcases practical implementations of his theoretical developments.

Polosukhin’s innovative approach has inspired the crypto industry to reevaluate priorities. Today, user and developer convenience is no longer an optional advantage but a critical requirement for any serious blockchain platform. This indicates that his influence is not only technical but also ideological.

Legacy and Ongoing Transformation

Polosukhin’s career demonstrates a rare consistency: from creating tools used by millions of machine learning practitioners today to developing architectures that redefine the capabilities of decentralized systems. Every stage of his career has been marked by a desire to make complex technologies accessible and practically applicable.

Under his leadership, NEAR Protocol continues to evolve, adapting to challenges related to scalability, security, and integration with other tech stacks. The trend toward greater user-centricity, initiated by his work, has become the dominant paradigm in the industry. Today, the question of how user-friendly a blockchain system is has become as important as its security and performance.

Ilya Polosukhin’s journey from Moscow’s physics and technology university through Google to founding a next-generation protocol demonstrates that true innovation does not arise from following established paradigms but from rethinking fundamental problems. His legacy will shape technological development for years to come, and his design principles will form the foundation for the next wave of innovation in the crypto industry and machine learning.