Which technology is characteristic of second-generation computing?

Microprocessors are a hallmark of third-generation computing, where integrated circuits allowed for the consolidation of thousands of transistors into a single chip. While they represent a major technological advancement, they were not introduced until after the second generation, making them incorrect for this question.

Nanotechnology pertains to manipulating matter on an atomic or molecular scale, primarily associated with advancements in later computing generations. It is not a defining feature of second-generation computing, which focused on transistor technology rather than nanoscale manipulation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) began to gain traction in later generations of computing as hardware and software advanced, particularly during the third generation and beyond. While AI is an important development in computing, it is not a characteristic of second-generation technology, which was primarily defined by the use of transistors.