You've probably heard of artificial intelligence systems which have gotten so good that they can beat the best humans at games like go, chess, or even jeopardy.

However, 200 years ago, one Hungarian engineer created a mechanical device that could defeat the world's greatest chess players.

Sort of. Learn more about the Mechanical Turk and how it convinced people for over 80 years

that it could play chess on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Way back in the day, the day, Royal Courts were very important places. You didn't have easy

communication so many nobles and members of the aristocracy would spend extended

amounts of time at the palace. Here they would consult, gossip, scheme, and

flatter the monarch, and they would consult, gossip, scheme, and flatter the monarch.

And they would also get really bored.

Entertainment was a high priority at any European royal court.

For example, as a child, Wolfgang Mozart and his family

traveled around Europe entertaining all the royal courts.

In addition to music, there might be balls, banquets, poets, actors, storytellers, and magicians.

It was in this environment that a Hungarian engineer by the name of Wolfgang von Kemplin

attended a session of court by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria at Schoenbrun Palace in 1769.

During the session was a performance by a French illusionist by the name of

Frenchois-Peltier.

Peltier's Act basically consisted of performing illusions with magnets whose properties

were still relatively unknown in the mid-18th century.

Kemplin was witness to this act and the reaction it got from the Royal Court in attendance.

After the performance, Kemplin announced to those in attendance that he would create

something which would top

Francois Peltier's performance.

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