The First Robot Played Chess in 1770 - Apparently.
In 1770, Wolfgang von Kempelen, an Hungarian inventor, created a mechanical automaton called the "Turk" that played chess against human opponents. The Turk was a life-sized puppet that sat at a chessboard, with a clockwork system allowing it to move pieces and respond to moves. The Turk was said to be unbeatable, but it was eventually revealed to be a hoax when a chess master discovered the human operator hiding inside. The Turk's mechanical and strategic abilities were so convincing that it was exhibited in royal courts and challenged the best chess players of its time.