What did Benjamin Franklin say about the mechanical Turk?

Answer 1

Benjamin Franklin described the Mechanical Turk, a Chess-playing automaton, as a remarkable invention that could fool even the most astute observers into believing it was a genuine machine capable of independent thought. He was fascinated by its ability to play chess against human opponents, which he saw as a demonstration of ingenuity and the complexities of Artificial Intelligence. Franklin's comments highlighted both the marvel of the invention and the curiosity surrounding the nature of intelligence and automation.