In the late 1700s, a Hungarian engineer named Wolfgang von Kempelen created a machine called “The Turk”, which appeared to be a robotic chess master. It wowed audiences across Europe and America, defeating famous figures like Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin.
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| Copper engraving of the Turk,Kempelen was a skilled engraver and he may have produced this image Photo: Wikipedia |
But here’s the mind-blowing twist:
It was all fake!
The Turk wasn’t actually playing chess. A skilled human chess master was hidden inside the machine, secretly controlling the pieces.
How the Trick Worked
- The machine was a cabinet with gears, wires, and a life-sized mannequin dressed like a Turkish man.
- Before a game, Kempelen would open compartments to show the "machinery" this was part of the act.
- In reality, there was a sliding seat inside, allowing a compact human to move unseen and operate the arm magnetically or mechanically.
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| Kempelen Photo : Wikipedia |
Why It Fooled the World
- At the time, the idea of a machine thinking was revolutionary and unthinkable.
- The illusion was brilliantly executed, and the players believed they were witnessing artificial intelligence long before it existed.
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