Systems and methods for modifying a structure of an artificial neural network (ANN) are provided. An example method comprises receiving, by one or more processing units, a plurality of arrays of weights associated with the ANN, modifying, by the processing units, the plurality of arrays of weights to generate a further plurality of further arrays of weights, where after the modification the following conditions are satisfied: an amount of operations required for computing neurons of the ANN using the further plurality of further arrays of weights is less than an amount of operations required for computing same neurons of the ANN using the plurality of arrays of weights; and outputs of the neurons of the ANN computed using the plurality of arrays of weights are substantially equal to further outputs of the neurons of the ANN using the further plurality of further arrays of weights.