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The Times of India

Sports / The Times of India

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Before AI, there was the Mechanical Turk: The chess machine that wasnt

The Mechanical Turk first appeared in 1770 as a chess-playing machine that astonished audiences across Europe and the Americas. It played Benjamin Franklin and Napoleon Bonaparte, but the secret was a skilled chess player hidden inside its cabinet. Despite widespread suspicion, the illusion endured for decades. Its story offers a striking reminder that the impression of an autonomous mind can hide the reality behind it.

23 Aug 2026 12:45 pm