Viktor doesn't answer so much as he grunts in acknowledgement, a little mmm sound as he straightens on his stool and puts down whatever he's doing (something small and fiddly). He seems to consider whether or not this is a conversation he can keep working through, but Blake has some of his notes, and he pushes his goggles up his forehead so he can have a better look.

"For more than the mines, but that is one of the practical applications, yes." The papers that Blake offers detail not only his automaton research, but the things he wants to use it for. He doesn't see why this should be a surprise, given his work clearing the mines some months ago, and he's always expressed interest in safer conditions for workers.

"Do you have automatons, where you come from? Artificial intelligence?"