"This neural engine is a trick so that Stockfish does not have to simulate all 40 moves every game states." This optimization always done by chess engines, it'

"This neural engine is a trick so that Stockfish does not have to simulate all 40 moves every game states." This optimization always done by chess engines, it's called pruning (they'd be quite crippled without it). Maybe the neural network component is now in charge of it, but it's not a new thing.