In this paper we study the theory of the so-called Kantorovich max-product neural network operators in the setting of Orlicz spaces L ϕ . The results here proved, extend those given by the authors in Result Math., 2016, to a more general context. The main advantage in studying neural network type operators in Orlicz spaces relies in the possibility to approximate not necessarily continuous functions (data) belonging to different function spaces by a unique general approach. Further, in order to derive quantitative estimates in this context, we introduce a suitable K-functional in L ϕ and use it to provide an upper bound for the approximation error of the above operators. Finally, examples of sigmoidal activation functions have been considered and studied.1991 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary: 41A25, 41A05, 41A30, 47A58.