’Machines à comparer les idées' of Semen Korsakov: First step towards AI

Abstract

This paper is devoted to forgotten Russian scholar Semen Korsakov and describes his life and scientific activity. The particular attention is paid to Korsakov's main achievement – invention of five "intellectual machines". These machines could be considered as the very first attempt to design a mechanical device capable to perform such intellectual operations as data analysis, comparison, and selection.